ATHLETICS: Sonia O'Sullivan intends to remind her rivals next month that she also has more than a passing interest in cross country running.

While world and European track gold medals sit in the same trophy cabinet as the 5,000 metres Olympic silver she claimed in Sydney three years ago, there are another two very meaningful ones alongside them.

One of the greatest triumphs of the Cobh runner's career was in 1998 when she became the first woman to win both the IAAF world long- and short-course cross country titles.

Now, for the first time since that memorable success ahead of Paula Radcliffe over a stifling desert course in Marrakech, O'Sullivan is specifically training for a major cross country race.

The last few weeks have seen her take on a gruelling regime at her Melbourne base in preparation for the European Cross Country Championships, which take place in Edinburgh on December 14th.

O'Sullivan is raring to lead her country to victory in the Scottish capital, firmly believing the female Irish quartet can master the likes of Russia, Portugal and Britain.

"I think Edinburgh will be our best chance of winning the title," O'Sullivan said from her Australian base. "Really, given its proximity to Ireland it will be as close as we will ever come to running on home soil."

While the British squad waits to hear whether fitness-doubt Radcliffe will lead their challenge, O'Sullivan is only interested in the ambitions of her own country.

"The championships aren't something we thought about last week or last month," she said. "It is something we have been planning since last year's World Cross Country Championships.

"We've been speaking about Edinburgh between ourselves for sometime. We are determined to do well."

Bolstered by the fact two-time European champion Catherina McKiernan is regaining top form after injury and motherhood, while Rosemary Ryan has been producing top results in early-season races, O'Sullivan will be watching this weekend's Irish Intercounty Championships in Mullingar on Sunday with great interest.

"We still need a fourth counter and obviously the likeliest candidate will emerge at the championships, which will be a great incentive for the contestants there," said O'Sullivan, who is scheduled to return to Europe from Australia late next week.

"Catherina has come back very strongly this year. Remember, she's a four-time world cross silver-medallist and an outstanding marathon runner.

"With her persistent injuries it would have been so easy for here to have quit. But she came back this year and, as she has got better, begun to enjoy her running again."

O'Sullivan headed Down Under almost two months ago after finishing her season with outstanding victories in the Great Ireland and Great South Runs.

And O'Sullivan, who turns 34 tomorrow, insists she is in mint condition.

"I've been training with some men down here whose bests for 5,000 metres are similar to mine and everything has gone really well," she revealed.

"We've managed to replicate the training I normally do back in London, and it really is a strong and determined group of athletes.

"I've had no distractions and, touch wood, there have been no injury scares. I really will be coming home in my best shape."

The weather in Melbourne may be somewhat warmer than she can expect in Edinburgh, but O'Sullivan's preparations have seen her toiling hard - just as she knows she will be required to do to make an impression on the Scottish course.

"There has been lots of hillwork and very fast repetitions," said O'Sullivan.

"When it has really begun to hurt I just remind myself of Edinburgh and I become more determined to run quicker."