Villanova Running

O’Sullivan savors his return to Millrose
By Ray O'Hanlon
The Irish Echo, February 8th, 2012

The Irish will be out in force at the Millrose Games at the Armory in Manhattan this coming Saturday, Feb. 11, and none among the Irish contingent will have a greater right to be trackside than Cork’s Marcus O’Sullivan.

While Eamonn Coghlan is the name that jumps to the minds of many when the Millrose Wanamaker Mile is mentioned, O’Sullivan’s is right at the Dubliner’s shoulder, as it was more than once in their competing days.

O’Sullivan, a four time Olympian and three-time gold medalist in the World Indoor Championships at 1500 meters, has five Wanamaker Miles to his name and on top of this he is the third all-time leader in the sub-4 minute mile record book with 101 races under the famous mark to his credit.

In this, O’Sullivan heads Coghlan, and trails only Steve Scott and John Walker.

These days, O’Sullivan heads the track and field and cross country program at Villanova University, his alma mater, and a college that is famous for its list of Irish runners, Coghlan included, on its rolls down the years.

As reported last week, O’Sullivan, along with Coghlan, Frank O’Mara and Ray Flynn, who is leading the market effort for the Millrose meet, established the still standing world record in the 4 x mile relay back in August, 1985 and on behalf of GOAL, which has just benefited from the efforts of ultra marathoner Richard Donovan.

O’Sullivan will be arriving in New York with his Villanova milers for a Millrose inter-collegiate clash that will also feature Dublin City University with Eamonn Coghlan’s son, John as one of the quartet.

So how does it feel to be back at the Millrose with his old track comrades?

“The last time I recall us all together, including Frank, was the anniversary of the four by one mile. However, I am personally in touch with all three of them on a regular basis and I see them all separately on a regular basis,” O’Sullivan told the Echo.



“Millrose is still a great representation of the indoor season and track and field,” added O’Sullivan, who fondly remembers the great runs at Madison Square Garden in what he now dubs the “old days.”

“However, with the Armory as the new location you are going to find some great times and performances,” he said.