Sophie O'Sullivan wins 1500m at European Under-23 Championships...
In the process, O'Sullivan set a new personal best and University of Washington school record, running 4:07.18 to eclipse the mark of 4:08.06 that she set at the NCAA West Regionals in Sacramento.
Irish teammate Sarah Healy was right behind O'Sullivan in second in 4:07.36. Healy came in as one of the top-ranked women in Europe, with a 4:01 season-best, and she led for nearly the full race, as O'Sullivan kept pace generally in third or fourth. As the pace picked up on the final lap, O'Sullivan made her move around Healy on the turn into the homestretch and held her off.
It continued a summer winning streak that saw the third-year Husky win the 1500-meter title for Ireland at the European Team Championships-Third Division, and win the 1500m and 800m at the Irish U23 Championships.
Speaking after the race, O’Sullivan said: “It feels fantastic, I was second five years ago so it’s good to get the gold. The big thing for me was staying as close as possible on the third lap as I tend to get distracted mid-race. It’s great to do it with Sarah and to go 1-2 for Ireland too”.
O'Sullivan, who is currently ranked 92nd going into Sunday's race in the Road To Budapest women's 1500 rankings, could conceivably jump into the top 56 depending on what happens the next two weeks, including an appearance at Ireland's national championship meet on the 29th and 30th in Dublin, where she could potentially earn bonus world ranking points in the final weekend of qualifying for the world championships.
In Silesia, Poland, former Husky Sam Tanner of New Zealand finished fifth in the 1500 at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial meeting Sunday, the eighth stop in the season long Wanda Diamond League series.
Tanner, who is already assured a spot on New Zealand's world championship team, ran 3:31.24 to set a personal best, and easily eclipse the standard for the Paris Olympics of 3:33.50, as the qualifying period began on July 1st.
It was a rough go for Husky volunteer coach Sam Prakel, who was 14th in 3:40.09.
Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen took the win in a world leading time, European and meet record 3:27.14.
The Wanda Diamond League series moves on to Monaco for the Herculis meeting on July 21st.
In Victoria, Washington grad student Aaron Ahl highlighted competition at the Victoria Track Classic Sunday afternoon with a double win.
He first took care of business winning the mens 1500 in 3:40.88, then came back to win the 3000 in 8:05.04, as he used this meet to sharpen up for the Canadian championships in Langley in two weeks.
UW alum Kayley DeLay, now competing for the Seattle based Brooks Beasts, finished third in the women's 1500, running 4:11.20, a new personal best.
NOTE: European Athletics, Athletics Ireland, the Wanda Diamond League, and the Victoria Track Classic contributed to this report.
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