O'Sullivan opts out

Sonia O'Sullivan is out of Ireland's team for the Europa Cup meeting at Bydgoszcz in Poland on July 8th and 9th.

Sonia O'Sullivan is out of Ireland's team for the Europa Cup meeting at Bydgoszcz in Poland on July 8th and 9th.

O'Sullivan, plotting a meticulous course to the Olympic Games in Sydney, has informed the selectors that she will not be available because of domestic reasons.

It is a major setback to Irish hopes of doing well in the prestigious competition as she was regarded as a real contender for the 5,000 metres title. However, she has informed the Athletics Association of Ireland that she will be available to run in the National Championships at the Morton Stadium in August.

Her first major track assignment of the season will be a 3,000m race in Helsinki on June 15th but before that she will be in action in the Dublin Mini Marathon on Sunday, June 11th.