O'Sullivan collects $50,000 with ease

A modest time of eight minutes 52.01 seconds but $50,000 the richer, Sonia O'Sullivan ended her track season last night with a win in the 3,000 metres Grand Prix final in Doha, Qatar.

In a temperature of 28 degrees and 61 per cent humidity, O'Sullivan finished the slow race with a typical kick from the final bend, having wound up the race to lead from 200 metres out.

The early lead oscillated between the Irish woman and her main rival, Tegla Loroupe, but when it came down to the final kick, the Kenyan marathon world record holder was swallowed in the rush with O'Sullivan extending her lead and ultimately untroubled in taking first place.

The race profile was as if O'Sullivan had sat down with her eight competitors and tailored the run to suit her own strengths.

At 800 metres, the 2.34.08 indicated a monstrously slow pace. At 1,000 metres, it continued along at a pedestrian 3.10.83 romp.

The tempo lifted towards the end, but all the relaxed O'Sullivan required was a 63.06 last lap to pocket the cash. For an athlete of her quality and finishing ability, it must have been the most pleasing prize-money earned for some time.

The Olympic 5,000 metres silver medallist returns to Dublin Airport today, arriving in at around 3.0 p.m.

There was a surprise in the 100 metres hurdles when a rather fit-looking Gail Devers turned out. The American, remember, pulled up in the Olympics clutching her hamstring and in some obvious distress. The wonders of medicine. Despite some heavy strapping around her left leg, Devers' remarkable recovery earned her first place in 12.85, or, $4,500 per second.

Britain's Mark Richardson gained something from the season in the 400 metres. Banned from the Olympics for a positive nandrolone result and his future in doubt, Richardson won his race from lane six in 45.20.