SONIA O'SULLIVAN'S visit to the Kelloggs Bran Flakes National Track and Field Championships at Morton Stadium, Santry, lasted a mere four minutes 1.24 seconds, but it was enough to show that the world champion's preparations for next month's Olympic Games in Atlanta are on course, as she toyed with the field before sprinting away to victory.

"I came here to win, and was not concerned with the time, it was only a race," she reflected afterwards. O'Sullivan was content to allow the lesser lights to have their moments of glory as Una English, again declaring an interest in running for this country, towed the field through the opening lap in 71.21 seconds, with O'Sullivan and Sinead Delahunty keeping a watching brief just behind.

The order remained the same for the next two laps with Elaine Fitzgerald, continuing her best form, also maintaining contact.

But once O'Sullivan moved up a gear on the crown of the final bend, the race was on for the minor placings. Delahunty, who will contest the 1,500m in Atlanta, took second place, with Una English taking bronze, while Fitzgerald equalled her best in fourth place.

There was much to admire in the running of Catherina McKiernan as she took the 5,000m title. A pedestrian opening 400m of 83 seconds ruled out any hope a sub fifteen minute time with Brid Dennehy, one of seven athletes with the qualifying standard at the distance, out in front. Katy McCandless, having her first run since changing her nationality, then hit the front and brought a measure of respectability to the lap times. But at the half way point, McKiernan destroyed the opposition.

Throwing in a 69 second lap, she drew away with consummate ease, leaving 5 athletes to dispute the minor placings.

While McKiernan strode to a facile victory in 15 minutes 27.10 seconds, interest centred on the battle for the minor placings with Marie McMahon, again displaying the grit that brought her an NCAA title in the USA, putting in a great last two laps and securing her ticket to Atlanta with the added bonus of a personal best outdoors of 15 minutes 43 seconds. McCandless was placed third and must await the selectors decision on whether she, too, will travel.

Victory was also satisfactory for Nick Sweeney with the wind conditions making it a difficult day for throwers and his winning effort of 60.66 metres all of 10 metres clear of the second placed athlete John Menton.

"One tough guy" adequately summed up Noel Berkeley's description of Sean Dollman after the South African born Irishman had clawed his way to victory in a nail biting battle to the line with only 0.007 seconds separating them after 10,000m of running.

A race of titanic proportions will live long in the memory of those who witnessed it. Dollman led for much of the race without managing to dispose of the Dubliner. Berkeley, who has a renowned sprint finish, swept into the lead with 220 metres left and opened a five metre margin which appeared to be growing as the finishing straight loomed. But Dollman, displaying commendable resolve, dug deep and launched himself one last time.

With 50 metres left the pair were level and the smart money was on Berkeley, but Dollman was not to be denied, and in the lunge for the line, took the gold.

For the second time in less than a week, Susan Smith lowered her own national record at 400m hurdIes when winning in 56.01 seconds. Indeed, this is the third time this year that the record has fallen. This was a smooth performance by the Waterford athlete with her only real opposition the clock, and the winning time was 0.13 seconds faster than the time she posted last week. With stronger competition she must surely dip below 56 seconds for the distance.

The second record of the championships fell to walker Jimmy McDonald, who knocked a massive 25 seconds off the previous best having led all the way.

A tense high jump competition, which was held up for some time following an injury to Stephen Dowdall, was eventually won by Mark Mandy, who required three efforts to clear at both 2.19m and 2.23m, with Antoine Burke in second place ahead of Kevin Keane.

The middle distance races were tense battles with David Matthews taking control early on and ensuring that he had the least distance to race as he hugged the inside track with his club mate James Nolan on his shoulder.

The bell rang with 53.66 seconds showing, and the 200m mark was the signal for the national record holder to move into overdrive as Matthews came home in 1.48.10.

Niall Bruton returned to something like his best form when he retained his 1,500m title. Cormac Finnerty led through the opening laps but Bruton assumed control at the bell. "I just wanted to win, but I was waiting for Marcus to sprint," Bruton said afterwards. But O'Sullivan never arrived and Bruton won by almost half a second.

Terry McHugh, bothered by a shoulder injury which necessitated surgery, proved that he is on the way back when he took his 13th consecutive title with a throw of 73.92 metres, while Roman Linscheid, who also had his trouble with injury recently, added 50 centimetres to his best when he won the hammer with 72.88 metres.