Athletics Round-up

Ireland's Sonia O'Sullivan broke the women's world two-mile record by more than eight seconds with a time of nine minutes 19.56 seconds in the Cork City Sports, with the second and third athletes, Amy Rudolph (USA) and Kathy Butler (Canada), also inside the old mark set by Lyn Jennings indoors in 1986.

However, Scotland's Vikki McPherson (City of Glasgow) had a disappointing run in Saturday's race, finishing thirteenth in 10-11.81 after paying the price for going off too fast at the start.

The best Scottish performance at the meeting came from Ross Baillie (Victoria Park), who won the 110 metres hurdles in 13.82 secs, .04 inside Ken Campbell's official Scottish record. However, doubts about the strength of the following wind may rule out a record.

Glen Stewart (Mizuno RC) was well back in the 5000m but still set a personal best of 13-53.55 in eleventh place behind another Irish winner, Mark Carroll (13-20.82).

Grant Graham (Motherwell) was eleventh (3-44.09) in the 1500m won by Olympic champion Noureddine Morceli (Algeria) in 3-34.78, but Ian Campbell (Dundee HH) dropped out.

High jumper Geoff Parsons was second with 2.10m, well below the Commonwealth Games selection target of 2.20m and Alasdair Donaldson (Babcock Pitreavie) was fourth in the 800m in 1-50.01, won by Ireland's James Nolan in 1-47.10 from Sammy Langat (Kenya). Results included:

Men. 100mA - 1 D Money (England) 10.23. B - 1, J Livingston (England) 10.29; 3, D Scott (Scotland) 10.61. 200m - 1, G Ryan (Ireland) 20.57; 2, E White (England) 21.13; 3, D Marsh (Australia) 21.19. 800m - 1, J Nolan (Ireland) 1-47.10; 2, S Langat (Kenya) 1-48.11; 3 P Kemboi (Kenya) 1:48.20; 4, A Donaldson (Scotland) 1-50.01. 1500m - 1, N Morcelli (Algeria) 3-34.78; 2 D Kisang (Kenya) 3-36.53; 10, C McClean (N Ireland) 3-43.46 (European junior qualifying time); 11, G Graham (Scotland) 3-44.09; 12, G Lough (N Ireland) 3-44.55. 5000m - 1 M Carroll (Ireland) 13-20.82; 2, T Takaoka (Japan) 13-21.10; 3 K Kosgei (Kenya) 13-25.71; 6, R Finch (England) 13-41.44; 8, S Barden (England) 13-45.31; 9, R Denmark (England) 13:48.48; 11, G Stewart (Scotland) 13-53.55. 110m hurdles - 1, R Baillie (Scotland) 13.82. High jump - 1, B Reilly (Ireland) 2.15m; 2, G Parsons (Scotland) 2.10.

Women. 100m - 1, S Jacobs (England) 11.34; 5, A McGillivary (Scotland) 11.70. 200m - C Freeman (Australia) 22.79. 2 miles - 1, S O'Sullivan (Ireland) 9-18.56 (world record); 2, A Rudolph (USA) 9-21.35; 3, K Butler (Canada) 9-27.18; 8, S Young (England) 9-49.67; 12, L Wright (England) 9-58.92; 13, V McPherson (Scotland) 10-11.81.

qMark Rigby, of Westerlands CCC, Glasgow, warmed up for the European Mountain Running Championship in Sestriere, Italy, next weekend with an excellent second place behind fellow World Trophy competitor Hubert Resch.

The Heimalm Mountain Race, an uphill only 6.3km/545m climb took place on Resch's home course in Rauris, Austria. Results:

Men - 1, H Resch (Austria) 29.24; 2, M Rigby (Scotland) 30.39. Women - 1, M Emberger (Austria) 40.19; 6, V Dempsey (Scotland/veteran) 47.49.