Cullen broke Sonia O'Sullivan's Irish indoor 3000m record at the weekend

Mary Cullen will aim to become the first home winner in the Great Ireland Run since 2004 at the event in Dublin on 5 April.

Cullen, who is a confirmed entry for the 10K event, is in the form of her life after setting a new Irish indoor 3000 metres record at the weekend.

The Sligo woman's time of 8:44.37 cut more than a second off Sonia O'Sullivan's previous mark set in 1997.

Cullen will be a medal contender at the European Indoor Championships in March.

The Irishwoman's runaway victory at the Valentine International meeting in the US was the fourth fastest time in the world this year.

Her next major event after the European Indoors in Turin will be the Phoenix Park race in early April.

The USA-based athlete will be hoping to emulate O'Sullivan, winner of the inaugural Great Ireland Run in 2003, and Catherina McKiernan who took victory a year later.

Cullen narrowly missed clinching a medal when finishing fourth at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels in December.

"We're delighted Cullen has decided to compete in the Great Ireland Run and yes, of course, it does raise the possibility of the first Irish victory for five years," said Andy Caine, the event's elite athletes manager.

"It won't be easy as I'm currently in talks to bring in a few overseas and British athletes who will all be capable of giving her a run for her money."

Sonia O'Sullivan will also return from her Australian base to tackle the 10k event and will be joined by up to 10,000 runners of all abilities.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version