Sophie O'Sullivan wins 1500m gold to become NCAA Division 1 champion
SOPHIE O'SULLIVAN BECAME the fifth Irish women last night to win an NCAA title after claiming victory in the 1500m race in Oregon.
Competing in the Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the 23-year-old took gold in a time of 4:07:94.
The final year student at the University of Washington emulates her mother Sonia, who took gold at 3000m in 1990 and 1991.
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The other Irish female athletes that have won gold at this level are Rhasidat Adeleke (400m in 2023 and 4x100m relay in 2022 & 2023), Mary Cullen (5000m in 2006), and Valerie McGovern (5000m in 1989 & 1990).
She finished ahead of Margot Appleton, from University of Virginia, in second place in a time of 4:08.99.
O'Sullivan, who competed for Ireland in the Paris Olympics last year, reflected on her victory after the race.
'Being the person that wants to win the most and I think there's bit of that like, maybe I really wanted to win the most, but I think also I was probably okay with it if I didn't win, if it meant I gave my best. I was just confident I could do the best that I could and I was going to be okay with that.
'Pretty f**king happy. I just kind of really thought someone was going to close on me there, so I was probably a bit scared and just run as far as I could and then kind of finished, looked around, I was like actually that's not too bad. I heard them say my name I was winning, soI kind of think there was at least some separation, but you kind of just never know.'
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