Olympic 5000-metre silver medallist Sonia O'Sullivan today said she will not be running the marathon next year when she returns to athletics after having her second child.
In Dublin launching the BUPA Ireland Loughrea Road Races taking place in October, O'Sullivan admitted moving up to the marathon does figure in her future plans - but it seems unlikely the transition will take place until 2003.
O'Sullivan, still jogging during her pregnancy, said: "When I get back running next year I'll be targeting the World Cross Country Championships".
This year's championships were scheduled to be held in Dublin, but the foot-and-mouth epidemic forced the transfer of the meeting at a fortnight's notice to Ostend.
O'Sullivan said: "Now that Dublin has been chosen to host them again I think it is very important that I compete on home soil. What shape I'll be in I don't know. But when I run in Ireland such as in the Loughrea race, the spectators always give me a big lift."
But after discussions with coach Alan Storey O'Sullivan has put her marathon ambitions on hold - for now.
The London-based star said: "If I wanted to do a marathon next spring I would have to be training for it now. Both Alan and I agree on that. No, it is unlikely I will run the distance next year."
PA