Happy Birthday, Sonia O'Sullivan

On this day in 1969 in the port town of Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland was born the greatest female runner in Villanova track and field history. Sonia O'Sullivan competed for Ireland in four Olympic Games (1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens), winning a silver medal over 5000 meters in 2000. She was twice the World Champion in Cross Country, performing the rare long- and short-course double in Marrakesh in 1998. Sonia was also a World Champion on the track, winning the 5000 meters in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1995. She was a three-time European Champion over 3000 (1994), 5000 (1998), and 10,000 (1998) meters, and won European silver two additional times. She was runner-up over 3000 meters at the 1997 World Indoor Championships. At Villanova, Sonia won two NCAA cross country individual titles, in 1991 and 1992, and two 3000 meter NCAA crowns in 1990. She set world records over 2000 and 5000i meters. Today, she turns 41 years of age.