SPORTS DIGEST: With Sonia O'Sullivan among the confirmed starters, the organisers of the 10km Great Ireland Run at the Phoenix Park on Sunday, April 9th, are promising further growth in this year's event, reports Ian O'Riordan.
The men's race will also include defending champion and world 5,000 metres bronze medallist Craig Mottram of Australia and European cross country champion Sergey Lebid.
O'Sullivan finished second last year to the American Amy Rudolph in the women's race.
The race, in its fourth year, is mainly about mass participation. Last year there were 5,500 entrants and over 8,000 runners are expected this year. RTÉ2 will broadcast the event live. Entry forms, telephone (01) 8680088 or go online at www.greatrun.org.
Australian motorcyclist Andy Caldecott died in a crash during the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally yesterday, race organisers said.
"At the 250km point of stage nine between Nouakchott and Kiffa, on a fast portion, the Australian biker suffered a bad crash and died," organisers said on the race website.
Caldecott (41) is the 23rd competitor to die in the Dakar Rally in 28 years. He won the Australia Safari four times and was competing in his third Dakar. He was lying 10th.
French title holder Cyril Despres of France clinched his second stage win in the bikes race, beating overall leader Spaniard Marc Coma by four minutes and 47 seconds.
Holder Stephane Peterhansel won the cars stage.
One of Germany's best-known athletics coaches began his trial yesterday on charges of providing banned drugs to underage athletes.
Thomas Springstein (47), the partner of retired former world and European 400 metres champion Grit Breuer and once part of the East Germany coaching regime, faces a fine or jail sentence if found guilty.
Besides being accused of supplying the drugs in 2003, Springstein is also accused of giving five injections to one of his female athletes to treat an injury without having the necessary medical permit.
Springstein, who was voted German coach of the year in 1992, trained both Breuer and fellow sprinter Katrin Krabbe, later banned.
