O'Sullivan unsure of Euro plans

O'Sullivan says she is feeling very relaxed

Sonia O'Sullivan has yet to make up her mind about which distance she will run at this summer's European Championships in Munich.

The Irish star completed a unique double in the 1998 championships, winning both the 5,000m and 10,000m golds.

O'Sullivan, fresh from victory at Saturday's Balmoral Road Races, believes she has plenty of time to pinpoint her ideal distance.

"It is too early to say what I will run at the Europeans this time," said O'Sullivan, after outpacing Olympic 5,000 metres gold medallist Gabriela Szabo in the Tesco Italiano five-miler.

I guess I am a tough old mother

Sonia O'Sullivan

O'Sullivan feels her preparations for the summer season are going to plan after giving birth to her second daughter, Sophie, at Christmas.

But she insisted she will not overdo her training, something she believes led to injury following the birth of first child, Ciara, in 1999.

Blustery conditions

"I am just a lot more relaxed about it this time," O'Sullivan said.

"Two years ago I was trying to prove I was superwoman. This time I am not pushing so hard."

That did not appear to be the case at the historic Royal Deeside venue on Saturday however, as O'Sullivan fought blustery conditions to complete a splendid win.

Gabriela Szabo finished second to O'Sullivan

"I guess I am a tough old mother," said O'Sullivan after breaking up the field between the first and second miles.

Szabo was equally non-commital about her European Championship ambitions after making an impressive road race debut.

"It is far too early to decide what distance I will do - 5000m yes, 10,000m possibly," said the 26-year-old, competing for the first time since last summer's World Championships.

Szabo's tiny frame was buffeted by the strong winds whipping over the Grampian mountains but she stuck resolutely to her task.

She finished in 25mins and 43secs, a comfortable 12secs ahead of third-placed Australian Benita Johnson, the Oceanic 3,000 and 5,000m record holder.

Late burst

Meanwhile, John Mayock, winner of the four-kilometres race, was leaving for a holiday in Florida to recharge his batteries.

He admitted to feeling tired following his European indoor 3,000m bronze medal.

He was the top British finisher in the World Cross short-course race on 23 March and defended his title at Balmoral with a late burst to pip Australian Mike Power.