O'Sullivan focus on 5000 metres

Sonia O'Sullivan retains the option of running both the 5000 and 10,000 metres

Irish athlete Sonia O'Sullivan will remain on the entry list for the 10,000 metres in Sydney even though she will be concentrating on the 5000 metres.

"I sat down with my coach, Alan Storey, and we both agreed that the 5,000 offered the better option," O'Sullivan said.

"This is the event I know more about and I'm happy that I've made the right decision," she told reporters after the weekend Irish national championships.

O'Sullivan won the world 5,000 metres title in 1995 and completed a golden 5,000 and 10,000 double at the European championships two years ago.

Choice

The Irishwoman, seen as her country's brightest medal prospect at the Sydney Games starting next month, retains the option of running both events at the Olympics.

"By staying in the 10,000, I have the choice of running that event. And since nobody else has been selected at that distance in the Irish team, I'm not keeping anybody off in doing so," she added.