RIETE in Italy is now being targeted as a possible venue for Sonia O'Sullivan's return to competition, following her withdrawal from tomorrow. night's Grand Prix meeting in Berlin. The decision to by-pass Berlin was taken yesterday after O'Sullivan had conferred with her agent, Kim McDonald, in London.
Unlike the the big German promotion, Sunday's meeting in Riete is a relatively low-key presentation which is classified as an IAAF permit event. Over the years, it has been the setting for. some outstanding performances, notably when Steve Ovett ran. there, but it does not attract the big names in the same numbers as a Grand Prix event.
By running in the 3,000 metres on Sunday, O'Sullivan would be able to assess her current form without the added pressures of having to compete against some of the medal winners in Atlanta.
Depending on her performance, she would then be in a better position to assess her chances of making a meaningful challenge in the 5,000 metres in the Grand Prix finals in Milan, a week tomorrow.
Catherina McKiernan is a definite starter for the Milan event, but clearly O'Sullivan will only loin her on the starting line if she feels that she has a realistic chance of winning the race.
∙ Linford Christie could join `Dream Team' sprint relay in a special tribute to the legendary Jesse Owens at tomorrow's Berlin Grand Prix.
Christie, who was not due to compete in the German capital, is considering an offer and promoter Rudi Thiel said: "We are still hopeful of getting him to come."
Thiel has managed to attract most of the Olympic loo metres champions since 1948 to attend the meeting, which is being held1 in the stadium where Owens won four gold medals 60 years ago at the Berlin Olympics
Canada's current Olympic champion and world record holder Donovan Bailey and Namibian Frankie Fredericks, the silver medallist at the Atlanta. Games, have already agreed to run in the 4xl00 metres team.
Olympic 200 and 400m champion Michael Johnson has also been asked to run. "Most of the Olympic champions of the past are coming including Allan Wells, who won in 1980. Christie belongs to them. It would be great to have him here," said Thiel.
