Sophie O'Sullivan

Sophie O'Sullivan (born 2001) is an Irish athlete.[2] She is the daughter of Irish Olympic Silver medallist Sonia O'Sullivan and Nic Bideau. 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]

Sophie O'Sullivan
Personal information
Born (2001-12-23) 23 December 2001[1]
RelativesSonia O'Sullivan (mother)
Sport
CountryIreland
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Ireland
European Athletics U18 Championships
Silver medal – second place 2018 Győr 800 m
European Athletics U23 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Espoo 1500 m

2023

On 3 February, as part of the University of Washington distance medley relay team, alongside Marlena Preigh, Carley Thomas, and Anna Gibson, she anchored the Huskies to victory in the 2023 Bruce Lehane and Scarlet White Womens 4000 distance medley relay at Boston University Track and Tennis Center, with a mile time of 4:34.254.[6]

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 June 7-10th. 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.[7]

On June 8th, 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 June 10th, finishing 12th in 4.22.81. The race was won by Harvard's Maia Ramsden in 4.08.60.[8][9]

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)[10] and 1500 m (4.27.02).[11]

On 22 June 2023, Sophie won the Division 3 1500m in 4.27.96 to help Ireland win promotion at the European Athletics Team Championships Third Division in Kraków.[12][13]

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).[14]

In the Women's Senior 1500 m at the Irish National Track and Field Championships on 30 July, Sophie (running in the colours of Ballymore-Cobh) was runner up in a time of 4.12.00, behind Sarah Healy (University College Dublin).[15]

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.[16] She finished fourth in a race won by Abbie Caldwell of Australia in 2.34.63.[17]

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.[18] Her time of 4.02.15 is quicker than the qualifying standard for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.[19] O'Sullivan's time was fifth fastest by an Irish women, with national record holder Ciara Mageen (3.55.87) ranked first. [20]

On September 3rd, Sophie O'Sullivan finished eighth in a 1500 race at the Citti' di Padova meet in Italy, where she ran her the third fastest time of her career - 4.07.66.[21]

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 and Sonia O'Sullivan.[22]

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.[23] This time was 12th fastest on the Irish all-time rankings, behind national record holder Ciara Mageen (1.59.27) in first.[24]

On 23 September, Sophie opened her 2023 cross-country season by finishing 15th in 16:40 over a 5,000 metre course at the Virginia Invitational, after leading the field through 2000 m. She led the Washington Huskies to 4th place on the course at Panorama Farms near Charlottesville, where the NCCA cross-country championships will be held on 18 November 2023.[25]

On October 13th, at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational in Madison, Sophie was in the top-20 through 2k, then struggled in the middle 2k but rallied again down the stretch to finish in 65th-place, a big improvement on her 144th placing in the same race in 2022.[26]

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



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. "2023 Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invitational Womens 4000 Distance Medley Relay Splits & Results". Lancer Timing. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  7. Cassidy, Rory (28 May 2023). "Talented Sophie O'Sullivan Joins Mother Sonia In Irish 1500m Elite". Balls.ie. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  8. "Adeleke smashes Irish record in NCAA triumph". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  9. "Women 1500 M". flashresults.ncaa.com. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  10. "Athletics Ireland - Live Results". results.athleticsireland.ie. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  11. "Athletics Ireland - Live Results". results.athleticsireland.ie. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  12. "Women's 1500 m - Division 3". chorzow23results.european-athletics.com. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  13. "Team Standings - Division 3". chorzow23results.european-athletics.com. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  14. "Sophie O'Sullivan takes gold in thrilling 1,500m final at European Under-23 Championships". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  15. "LAVIN DOUBLE GOLD DELIGHT AS OLATUNDE MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW". Athletics Ireland. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  16. "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. UW Athletic Communications. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  17. "- SELTEC Sports LA-Portal". slv.laportal.net. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  18. "HEATS | 1500 Metres | Results | Budapest 23 | World Athletics Championships". WorldAthletics.org. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  19. "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. UW Athletic Communications. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  20. "Irish Alltime List". www.tilastopaja.eu. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  21. "ADEMOLA EXTENDS NATIONAL U23 LONG JUMP RECORD IN ITALY". Athletics Ireland. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  22. "Sophie O'Sullivan breaks U23 3,000m record in Italy". echo live. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  23. "22. Volksbank Trier Flutlichtmeeting | Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  24. "Irish Alltime List". www.tilastopaja.eu. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  25. Communications, UW Athletic. "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  26. Communications, UW Athletic. "Washington Huskies". Washington Huskies. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  27. "Washington Huskies" (PDF). Washington Huskies. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
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