Sonia set to coach Australia cohort

ATHLETICS:SONIA O'SULLIVAN will take on her first major coaching role at the World Cross Country in Edinburgh later this month, although it's Australia that will benefit from her vast experience, and not Ireland.

O'Sullivan has held dual Irish-Australian citizenship since 2006, and for over a decade now has spent the winter months at her Melbourne home.

Her partner, Nic Bideau, is coach to several of Australia's top distance runners, and O'Sullivan was given her new role after Saturday's national trials in Canberra, which resulted in five of Bideau's athletes being named in the 22-strong Australian team.

These include Craig Mottram and Benita Johnson, who both have hopes of making the medals at the event in Edinburgh on March 30th.

O'Sullivan was handed the role for several reasons, including her intimate knowledge of the course, where four years ago she helped Ireland win silver medals at the European Cross Country.

"I hope that my experiences in the past will inspire the team to run at a high level and challenge for a medal," she said.

"Most of the girls on the team I have trained with while in Australia. We hope that this familiarity and experience I have will lead to a good team spirit."

It's now 10 years since O'Sullivan won a rare long-and-short-course double at the World Cross Country, in Marrakesh in 1998, although the event has now reverted to the long course only.

O'Sullivan became an Australian citizen in time to be picked her second country at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games two years ago, only for a hamstring injury to force her out of the team.

"All the athletes will have their own coaches," she added, "but I've been there, I've run it, so if I can help them on the spot, that's great. I'm really looking forward to it."

O'Sullivan also confirmed she will travel back to Ireland after Edinburgh and compete at the Great Ireland Run in the Phoenix Park the following Sunday, April 6th.

"I really love running in the Phoenix Park and to have the opportunity to run there so soon after our return from Australia is something I am really looking forward to."