Sophie O'Sullivan

Irish athlete (born 2001)

Sophie O'Sullivan
Personal information
Born (2001-12-23) 23 December 2001 (age 22)[1]
RelativeSonia O'Sullivan (mother)
Sport
CountryIreland

Sophie O'Sullivan (born 2001) is an Irish athlete.[2] She won a silver medal in the 800 metres at the 2018 European Athletics U18 Championships in Győr, Hungary.[3] O'Sullivan won 1500 metres gold at the 2023 European Athletics U23 Championships in Espoo, Finland.[4] She is currently an NCAA Division I athlete representing the University of Washington.[5]

Life

Sophie is the daughter of Irish World champion and Olympic Silver medallist Sonia O'Sullivan, and Nic Bideau.

Career

2023

At the University of Washington Preview Meet on 14 January at the Dempsey Arena in Seattle, O'Sullivan achieved personal bests over the mile (4.36.67, for 6th in her section, and sixth fastest time overall) and the 800 metres (2.05.87, for 1st in her section and 5th overall). She also ran a leg of the 4 X 400 metres relay, where UW finished 4th of 15 teams in 3.56.4. [6] [7] At the University of Washington Invitational Meet on 28 January she ran 3000 m in 9.03.91, to finish second behind Emily Venters of Utah. O'Sullivan's time was 6th fastest in UW history. She also ran the anchor leg in the 4 by 400 relay, where her team finished 2nd in 3.45.21, behind San Diego State.[8] [9]

On 3 February, as part of the University of Washington distance medley relay team, alongside Marlena Preigh, Carley Thomas, and Anna Gibson, she helped the Huskies to victory in the 2023 Bruce Lehane and Scarlet White Women's 4000 m distance medley relay at Boston University Track and Tennis Center, with a 1200 m time of 3.16.24. UW's time of 10:46.62 was a new NCCA record. [10] [11] At the same meet, she finished 8th in the mile race in 4.39.35.[12] At the Huskey Classic in the Dempsey Arena on 11 February O'Sullivan took the lead in the top heat of the women's mile with 200-meters to go and held on to win, lowering her mile PR to 4:33.24, and tying for the No. 5 time in school history. [13] Shortly afterwards, she finished 19th fastest over 800 metres in 2.08.94.[14]

At the Stanford Invitational in Pao Alto, California, on 1 April, O'Sullivan finished 2nd overall in the 1500 metres in 4.17.46. She followed this up on 22 April, again in Pao Alto, CA, as she ran 1500 metres in a 4 X 1500 metres relay in which Washington placed third in 17.15.64.[15] At the Penn Relays on 29 April she helped UW to two top-three finishes, splitting 4:18 as the 4x1500m relay took third, and splitting 2:07 to help the 4x800m relay place second.[16]

On 28 May at the NCCA Preliminaries in Sacramento, CA, O'Sullivan won her 1500 heat in a new PB of 4.08.06 to qualify for the NCCA finals in Austin, Texas on 7-10 June. Her time was the fastest over the distance in University of Washington history, eighth on the Irish all-time list, and 11th on the NCCA all-time list.[17] On 8 June O'Sullivan was fastest qualifier in the 1500 m heats at the NCCA finals in Austin, Texas, running 4:09.58. She was unable to maintain this form in the final on 10 June, finishing 12th in 4.22.81. The race was won by Harvard's Maia Ramsden in 4.08.60.[18][19]

At the Irish national under 23 Championships in Tullamore, Co. Offaly on 2 July, O'Sullivan scored a double, striking gold at both 800 m (2.10.04)[20] and 1500 m (4.27.02).[21] On 22 June 2023, she won the Division 3 1500m in 4.27.96 to help Ireland win promotion at the European Athletics Team Championships Third Division in Kraków.[22][23]

On 16 July, O'Sullivan won the 1500 m at the European Under 23 Championships in Espoo, Finland. Her winning time was a new personal best of 4.07.18. She finished ahead of Ireland's Sarah Healy (4:07.36) and Britain’s Shannon Flockhart (4:08.37).[24] In the Women's Senior 1500 m at the Irish National Track and Field Championships on 30 July, she (running in the colours of Ballymore-Cobh) was runner up in a time of 4.12.00, behind Sarah Healy (University College Dublin).[25]

On 4 August, O'Sullivan ran 2.37.08 for the 1000 m, the fastest time in US collegiate history, an Irish under-23 record, and the third fastest time by an Irish woman (behind Sonia O'Sullivan and Ciara Mageen), at the CITIUS Meeting, a World Continental Challenge event, at Stadion Wankdorf in Bern, Switzerland.[26] She finished fourth in a race won by Abbie Caldwell of Australia in 2.34.63.[27]

On 19 August, O'Sullivan competed in the heats of the Women's 1500 m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. She improved her personal best to 4.02.15, finishing 8th in her heat, and just missing out on qualification for the next round.[28] Her time of 4.02.15 is quicker than the qualifying standard for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.[29] O'Sullivan's time was fifth fastest by an Irish women, with national record holder Ciara Mageen (3.55.87) ranked first. [30]

On 5 September, at the Palio Citta' Della Quercia in Rovereto, Italy, O'Sullivan finished second in the 3000 m in 8.44.72, behind Wubrist Aschal (Ethiopia). O'Sullivan's time broke the Irish under 23 record, and was the third fastest ever by an Irish woman, behind Mary Cullen (8:43.74i) and Sonia O'Sullivan (8:21.64).[31] [32] On 8 September 2023, O'Sullivan achieved a personal best of 2.01.43 over 800 m at the Volksbank Trier Flutlichtmeeting in Moselstadion, Trier in Germany, finishing second behind Vivian Chetbet Kiprotich of Kenya.[33] This time was 12th fastest on the Irish all-time rankings, behind national record holder Ciara Mageen (1.59.27) in first.[34]

On 27 October, running on her home course at Chambers Creek Regional Park in University Place, Washington in the 2023 PAC 12 cross-country championship, O'Sullivan finished in sixth position over a 6k course, and led the Washington Huskies to the team title.[35] Her time was 19.33.80.

On 18 November, O'Sullivan competed in the NCCA Division 1 Cross Country National championships at Panorama Farms near Charlottesville, Virginia. She finished in 56th position in 20.16 over a 6K course, and helped the Washington Huskies to finish in 8th position in the team race. Sophie went through 1000 meters in 21st position (2.27), 2000 m in 26th (6.20), 3000 m in 39th (9.50), 4000 m in 60th (13.19), and 5000 m in 65th (17.02), before rallying to 56th over the last kilometer. The winner was Parker Valby of Florida in 18.55, with 2022 champion Katelyn Tuohy of North Carolina State in 5th in 19.23. NC State won the team race. [36] [37] [38]

2024

On 28 January, O'Sullivan opened her indoor season with a third place finish in the mile at the University of Washington/Mile City event at the Dempsey Arena in Seattle. Her time was 4:35.63, two second outside her personal best.[39]

References

  1. ^ "Sophie O'Sullivan". WorldAthletics.org.
  2. ^ O'Loughlin, Mikie (28 May 2021). "Sonia O'Sullivan's family life with husband Nic and daughters Sophie and Ciara". RSVP Live. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Ireland's Sarah Healy wins her second gold medal and smashes record in the 1500m at European Championships". Irish Independent. 8 July 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Cobh's Sophie O'Sullivan confirms her potential by winning European gold". EchoLive.ie. 16 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  6. ^ "TFRRS | Sophie O'Sullivan – Track and Field Results & Statistics". www.tfrrs.org. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  7. ^ Communications, UW Athletic. "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  8. ^ "TFRRS | 2023 UW Invite - Meet Results". www.tfrrs.org. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  9. ^ Communications, UW Athletic. "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  10. ^ "2023 Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invitational Womens 4000 Distance Medley Relay Splits & Results". Lancer Timing. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  11. ^ Communications, UW Athletic. "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  12. ^ "TFRRS | Sophie O'Sullivan – Track and Field Results & Statistics". www.tfrrs.org. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  13. ^ Communications, UW Athletic. "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  14. ^ "TFRRS | Sophie O'Sullivan – Track and Field Results & Statistics". www.tfrrs.org. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  15. ^ "TFRRS | Sophie O'Sullivan – Track and Field Results & Statistics". www.tfrrs.org. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  17. ^ Cassidy, Rory (28 May 2023). "Talented Sophie O'Sullivan Joins Mother Sonia In Irish 1500m Elite". Balls.ie. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Adeleke smashes Irish record in NCAA triumph". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Women 1500 M". flashresults.ncaa.com. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Athletics Ireland - Live Results". results.athleticsireland.ie. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Athletics Ireland - Live Results". results.athleticsireland.ie. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Women's 1500 m - Division 3". chorzow23results.european-athletics.com. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Team Standings - Division 3". chorzow23results.european-athletics.com. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  24. ^ "Sophie O'Sullivan takes gold in thrilling 1,500m final at European Under-23 Championships". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  25. ^ "LAVIN DOUBLE GOLD DELIGHT AS OLATUNDE MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW". Athletics Ireland. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  26. ^ "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. UW Athletic Communications. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  27. ^ "- SELTEC Sports LA-Portal". slv.laportal.net. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  28. ^ "HEATS | 1500 Metres | Results | Budapest 23 | World Athletics Championships". WorldAthletics.org. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. UW Athletic Communications. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Irish Alltime List". www.tilastopaja.eu. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  31. ^ "Sophie O'Sullivan breaks U23 3,000m record in Italy". echo live. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  32. ^ "Sophie O'Sullivan looks back on a brilliant summer". AW. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  33. ^ "22. Volksbank Trier Flutlichtmeeting | Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  34. ^ "Irish Alltime List". www.tilastopaja.eu. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  35. ^ "Washington Huskies" (PDF). Washington Huskies. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  36. ^ Communications, UW Athletic. "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  37. ^ "NCAA Cross Country Championships 2023 Results: Parker Valby Cruises - FloTrack". www.flotrack.org. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  38. ^ "Results". live.pttiming.com. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  39. ^ Communications, UW Athletic. "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. Retrieved 28 January 2024.

External links

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