Sonia O'Sullivan to run with the masses Former event winner Sonia O'Sullivan will make a surprise appearance at the Great Ireland Run in the Phoenix Park, Dublin on Sunday April 6th. In last year's event Ireland's greatest ever sportswoman, made her farewell competitive road racing appearance in Ireland. O'Sullivan is currently based in Melbourne, Australia and stressed next month she just wants to join up to 10,000 fun runners expected on the start line."I am really looking forward to the Great Ireland Run this year," said O'Sullivan who plans celebrating St Patrick's Day there before returning to her London home. "It is the sixth year of the Run in the Phoenix Park and it is fantastic that the Run has continued to grow and become increasingly more popular with runners of all abilities each year. "This year I will be running for Cork in the mass participation race and I hope to have the backing of plenty runners from Cork as we challenge for the Ronnie Delany Inter-County Trophy. "I really love running in the Phoenix Park and to have the opportunity to run there with thousands of others so soon after our return from Australia is something I am really looking forward to on April 6th." STAR-STUDDED ELITE WOMEN’S FIELD FOR GREAT IRELAND RUN ON APRIL 6TH A star-studded elite women’s field is coming together for the Great Ireland Run in the Phoenix Park, Dublin on Sunday April 6th. Britain’s Jo Pavey, who finished 4th in the 10km at the World Championships in Osaka last summer, will open her 2008 competitive season in Dublin aiming to be the first English winner of the Run. Pavey was 5th over 5km at the 2004 Olympic Games and 2nd at the same distance in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Pavey will be challenged by last year’s Great Ireland Run champion, Victoria Mitchell of Australia who will return to Dublin after running in the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh the previous weekend. Mitchell is a regular training partner of Sonia O’Sullivan who will also run in Dublin, although as a fun runner rather than an elite. Also coming to the Great Ireland Run will be the 2004 World Cross Country Champion and 2:22 marathoner, Benita Johnson of Australia, and former European Cross Country bronze medalist, Aniko Kalovics of Hungary. 5,000 runners have already signed up for this year’s Run at www.greatrun.org . There is also a Run hotline at 1890 930 139. Entries remain open for what is Ireland’s fastest growing athletics event. Participants are being encouraged to raise funds for good causes and the event’s nominated charities are Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin and the Marie Keating Foundation. Further details: Roy Dooney, The Media Group, 01 2301815 / 087 2414165
