Latest news with #Division1OutdoorTrackandFieldChampionships
The Irish Sun
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Sonia O'Sullivan cheers daughter Sophie on to historic feat as she emulates mother with huge US collegiate win
SONIA O'Sullivan was present as she watched daughter Sophie storm to an NCAA 1500m title in Oregon. In doing so, the 23-year became only the fifth Irishwoman to triumph at what is the elite level of US collegiate athletics. Advertisement 3 Cork icon Sonia got this photo trackside after Sophie won the race Credit: @soniagrith 3 Sophie predominantly grew up in Melbourne with Sonia's husband Nick hailing from there Credit: @soniagrith 3 The moment she crossed the line a full second ahead of second-placed Margot Appleton Credit: @soniagrith Sophie has But this was the greatest day of her running career so as she came first in the Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships after clocking a time of 4:07:94. 2000 Olympic silver medallist Sonia is one of the previous four Irishwomen to go before her. She took the gold in the 1990 and 1991 competition. That list is rounded out by Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport Sophie also gave a brilliantly exuberant post-race interview with She beamed: '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." Advertisement Most read in Athletics Asked how she was feeling, "I just kind of really thought someone was going to close on me there. Usain Bolt names world record holder among three stars he was gutted not to race against "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 so I kind of think there was at least some separation but you kind of just never know.' Advertisement
The Journal
20 hours ago
- Sport
- The Journal
Sophie O'Sullivan wins 1500m gold at NCAA Championships
The 42 SOPHIE O'SULLIVAN BECAME the fifth Irish woman 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 in Eugene, 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. 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). Advertisement O'Sullivan finished last night 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.' 𝐍𝐂𝐀𝐀 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧! 🥇☘️ Sophie O'Sullivan (@UWTRACK/Ballymore Cobh AC) has stormed to gold in the Women's 1500m at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoors clocking 4:07.94 😮💨 She becomes just the fourth Irishwoman to win an NCAA Division 1 outdoor title 🙌 #IrishAthletics — Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) June 15, 2025 Written by Fintan O'Toole and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The 42
a day ago
- Sport
- The 42
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. Advertisement 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.'
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Sophie O'Sullivan ‘pretty f**king happy' after sprinting to 1500m victory at NCAA Championships
At the Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday night, the 23-year-old unleashed a blazing 58.43-second last lap in the women's 1500m to take gold in 4:07.94, with the University of Virginia's Margot Appleton second in 4:08.99. O'Sullivan, a final-year student at the University of Washington, is just the fifth Irish woman to have won at the event, following in the footsteps of her mother Sonia along with Rhasidat Adeleke, Valerie McGovern and Mary Cullen. O'Sullivan was born and raised in Australia but, as a dual citizen, she chose to represent Ireland in her mid-teens, winning silver in her international debut over 800m at the European U-18 Championships in 2018. In 2023, she outsprinted her Irish teammate Sarah Healy to win the European U-23 1500m title, and went on to become an Olympian in Paris last year. However, despite her achievements elsewhere, O'Sullivan had repeatedly come up short in her search for an NCAA title in recent years, finishing 12th in the 1500m final at the last two editions. She said she was 'pretty f**king happy' to hit the line in front in her final race as a collegiate athlete, and had been 'running a bit scared' over the last lap, unaware of how much daylight she had put between her and her rivals. O'Sullivan revealed she had endured some cyber bullying after one of her earlier disappointments at the event, but having struggled with injuries at times in recent years, she came into these championships fit and fully firing. 'I felt this year I was a different person, a different athlete,' she said. 'And based on the races I've had recently, I had no reason to think I should run bad.' The early pace in the final was slow, the field passing 400m in 68 seconds and 800m in just 2:21. O'Sullivan slotted into second on the opening lap but took control with two laps to run. 'I was just trying to hold my position on the inside lane and not let everyone box me out and trying to find a way out,' she told She shifted through the gears, stretching the field, on the penultimate lap, and then went for broke with half a lap to run, powering clear of the field on the final bend. She said it was 'special' to finish her NCAA career with a win. Her mother Sonia had won five NCAA titles during her years at Villanova University in the early 1990s. Asked about her plans and where she plans to base herself, Sophie said she was 'not too sure' but would look at the options on the table in the weeks ahead for a professional contract. 'My visa's up so I've got to leave America soon, I'm going to fly to London and go from there. We'll see.' Over the summer she will be based primarily in Teddington, linking up with members of the Melbourne Track Club, a professional group which is run by her father, Nic Bideau. She is already qualified for the Tokyo World Championships in September, having run 4:00.23 at the Olympics in Paris last year. ADVERTISEMENT Elsewhere at the NCAA Championships, Cork sprinter Lucy-May Sleeman was part of the Florida State team that finished seventh in the women's 4x100m, clocking 43.30. The women's 800m was won by Róisín Willis in 1:58.13, the daughter of Irish Olympian Breda Dennehy-Willis. A student at Stanford University, Willis is also eligible to represent Ireland though in her teenage years she chose to represent the US, where she was born and raised, winning the world U20 title in 2022. Meanwhile, Rhasidat Adeleke will be back in action this evening at the Stockholm Diamond League. The 22-year-old Dubliner finished fourth in Oslo on Thursday night in her first 400m race since last September, clocking 50.42, and she will hope to improve on that against a similar line-up in Stockholm. The race goes to the line at 6pm Irish time, with live coverage on Virgin Media Two and BBC Two from 5pm. On Saturday, rising star Nick Griggs made an excellent return to racing at the British Milers Club event in Belfast after a long layoff, winning the mile in 3:55.97 in rainy conditions.
