Leevale’s Marcus O’Sullivan is back in Cork for a few days and it was a treat to see him at the track tonight. He had great words of advice and encouragement for the appreciative young Leevale athletes.
Marcus is still one of the greatest athletes that Ireland has ever produced. A world class runner, and winner of three World Indoor Championships over 1500m, he competed in four Olympic Games. He is third all-time miler with total sub-4 minute miles, at 101.
The three World Indoor 1500m Championships won by Marcus were in 1987 (Indianapolis), 1989 (Budapest), and 1993 (Toronto). In his victories in 1987 and 1989, he set championship records. He was 4th in the 1991 Seville world indoor championships.
World Champions Rob Heffernan & Marcus O’Sullivan with Leevale’s head coach Tony Shine
Marcus qualified for four Olympic Games for Ireland: 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996, at both 800 metres and 1500 metres. He reached the 1500 metre finals at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
He set an indoor 1500 metres world record of 3:35.4 on 10 February 1989, and was generally regarded as a one of the best indoor milers ever. This is evidenced by the fact that he won the prestigious Wanamaker Mile in Madison Square Garden’s Millrose Games five times (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1992).
Marcus, along with Irish runners Ray Flynn, Eamonn Coghlan, and Frank O’Mara, established the still standing world record in the 4×1 mile relay, when they combined in Dublin on August 17 1985 to run 15:49.08
Marcus is the head coach at Villenova University.