Sonia finds fiery pace just too hot to handle

At the London Grand Prix in Crystal Palace last night, Sonia O'Sullivan found the flying stride of some old rivals too swift to match, and a repeat of her Olympic duel with Gabriela Szabo never quite materialised.

Szabo herself was beaten into second in the 5,000 metres, a race narrowly won by Ethiopia's Berhane Adere, with O'Sullivan a little further back in third.

The winning time of 14 minutes 33.65 seconds was the second fastest in the world this season - after Paula Radcliffe's stunning run at the Commonwealth Games last month.

It was anticipated the race might boil down to a last lap sprint between Szabo and O'Sullivan similar to the memorable night Sydney two years back.

Adere, however, had other ideas - not that she's exactly a stranger to either the Irish or Romanian athlete.

It was Adere who got the better of O'Sullivan over 3,000 metres in Zurich a week ago, and earlier in the year had helped destroy O'Sullivan's ambitions in the World Half Marathon, a title which Adere won.

Last night the Ethiopian ran the perfect tactical race, sitting on Szabo before delivering a fearsome kick, reflecting her growing confidence and status in world distance running.

Though O'Sullivan was trailed off from the leading duo even before halfway, she never gave up the chase and in taking third was awarded with her fastest time in the event since the Sydney Olympics, 14:46.97.

Again, the year-long absence from high-class racing probably came against her, even if her effort appeared total.

It was just after 2,000 metres, with Russia's Olga Komyagina doing some powerful pace making, when O'Sullivan first saw a gap develop on her rivals.

A few laps later, Szabo was left in front chased only by Adere, and it remained that way until the Ethiopian swept past in the final 200 metres, winning by just over half a second.

There was some consolation for O'Sullivan in that, similar to Zurich last week, she got the better of Marta Dominguez, the Spaniard who edged her out of gold at the European 5,000 metres. Dominguez dropped back after just two laps and ended up fifth in 15:18.80.

At halfway between Sydney and the Athens Olympics, it was, however, a timely reminder that O'Sullivan's best days on the track are not quite behind her.

Up to 3,000 metres, the pace was of world-record standard, and if Szabo and Adere hadn't fallen into some tactical manoeuvring on the last few circuits the 14:28.09 world record could have been within their reach.

O'Sullivan, though, now switches her concentration to the roads, with a series of races lined up over the next few weeks - including the Great North Run half-marathon on October 6th - as she contemplates whether or not to attempt the New York City Marathon in November.

In Tullamore tomorrow, meanwhile, the domestic season concludes with the Mazda League final, where eight clubs compete in the premier division - men and women - for the honour of top club in the country.

First event on the track will be the 100/110-metre hurdles, with Peter Coghlan looking to get the early points for Crusaders AC as they seek to defend their men's title.