Marcus still going strong

Anyone who thought that Marcus O’Sullivan’s running days were over when he ‘retired’ from the international  circuit some years ago were proved very wrong in the last few days.   The Leevale man, competing at an indoor meet at Penn State University on Saturday he once again showed what a fantastic athlete he is by breaking the world record for an over 40 athlete.
      
Competing in the 3,000m he finished a gallant third to Tom Parlapiano, one of the athletes he coaches at the famed Villanova University.  His time of 8:09.13 is a new world over 40 record, bettering the 8:20.16 set by Englishman Nigel Gates in 1994.
      
Surely it now only a matter of time before he sets a  new World mark for the mile, currently held by another of Ireland’s  greats, Eamon Coghlan, with a time of 3:58.15.
      
O’Sullivan celebrated his 40th birthday just before  Christmas and his new 3,000m time would do justice to runners in the prime  of their running careers.  The next few weeks should be interesting as he chases the world best time for the mile, something he has set his sights  on for some years.