Irish Runner Magazine - 100 Sub 4 Miles for Marcus O'Sullivan - February 1998

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Marcus O'Sullivan - Century of Achievement

Irish Runner Magazine, February/March 1998 - Vol 18, No 1, P22-23

Marcus O'Sullivan

Marcus O'Sullivan featured on Cover of Irish Runner Magazine, February/March 1998

Download Full Article (PDF File) - Irish Runner Magazine, February/March 1998 - Vol 18, No 1, P22-23

Millrose Games

It was a lot like old times at Madison Square Garden on Friday 13 February - Marcus O'Sullivan was the first athlete to address the post-race press conference.

The modest Corkman may not have won the 1998 Wanamaker Mile, but his 3:58.10 third place made him only the third man ever to post 100 sub-fours - and the US media wanted to know immediately how it felt to make history.

'There's a great sense of relief now that this target has been achieved,' Marcus answered. 'I began to focus on the dream (of achieving 100 sub-fours) about five years ago when I was thinking of retiring from athletics. I was cleaning out my basement when I came across the trophy I won for my first sub-four, in Chapel Hill in 1983. I then started counting the number of times I had broken four minutes - it was 76.

'That's when I decided to go for the 100, which means entry to a pretty exclusive club - only John Walker, Steve Scott, and now myself have achieved the target. It has helped greatly to keep me motivated over the past several seasons.'

Now O'Sullivan is a fully fledged member of the club - since New York he has actually notched sub-four number 101, this time in Australia. Steve Scott, incidentally reached 136, John Walker 124.

Marcus O'Sullivan's 101 Sub-4 Miles

 * Indoor sub-four number 47, surpassing the previous world record 46 of Steve Scott (USA) The above list excludes approximately 20 sub-four road miles and more than 90 metric 'equivalents' - 3:40 or faster for 1,500m.

Marcus O'Sullivan's Off-The-Ball Interview on 20th Anniversary of 100th Sub-4 Mile

Marcus delivered a vintage performance on what was probably his final appearance in the Wanamaker, an event he had won five times. The 1 7,000-plus crowd were totally behind him on the final two circuits as he fought to keep contact with eventual winner Laban Rotich of Kenya (3:55.69) and American Paul McMullen (3:57.46).

'My legs felt very tired on the final two circuits, and I did not have quite the finish of other occasions,' said the man who at 36 was conceding eight years to Rotich.

'I think it's important that you continue to keep searching for goals in sport and life in general,' he continued. 'If you lose motivation you lose desire and if you lose desire you go through what I would call a doldrums effect, where you are just floating along. I'm just very thankful that I was in the basement that day five years ago cleaning out.

'Finding that old trophy made the past four or five years wonderful for me - I've learned more about myself and the sport and training and what to do and what not to do than ever before in my life. It's like a light came on in a room and I knew for the first time where everything was. I don't believe I would have reached that pinnacle of understanding had it not been for the circumstances that have me here tonight.'

It was a night in New York that one felt immensely proud of Marcus O'Sullivan. When eventually he got to sit down and chat in the Old Stand (where the Irish were living it up into the small hours), he radiated humility and quiet satisfaction.

'I feel really blessed and content,' he mused. 'I've had 15 wonderful years in athletics and 30 great seasons, mostly injury- free - and that is something to be very grateful for. Tonight it feels like things have come the full circle. I expect to slowly wind down my career over the next while.'

Marcus's wife, Mary, and kids, Laura and Christopher, were in the Garden to see history made. Probably nothing gives Marcus more pleasure than heading off with his family to their small farm in Sussex County, New Jersey, where they help with the annual vegetable harvest. 'I love the farm. It's close to Mary's parents, and the kids have a great time there.'

One man mightily impressed with Marcus in New York was Ray Flynn, himself our fastest miler and a sub-four 89-timer: 'Marcus has had a really great career. His three World Indoor golds (at 1,500m) were special.'

Likewise Eamonn Coghlan, who interviewed Marcus trackside on the night: 'This is a special night for Marcus - it crowns a great career. And now that the mile is not usually included in big meets, it seems unlikely the Hundred Club will be gaining new members in the near future.'

For the man himself, there was no huge post-race fanfare, no popping champagne corks, no cake of 100 candles. Clearly, he was content to quietly wind down a night that will always have a special meaning for himself and his family and all of us fortunate enough to have been there. 'This is a good night to just quietly reflect on my career and give thanks for everything,' he concluded.

It was a Corking night all round at the Garden. Mark Carroll won the 3,000m (7:49.38) for the third straight year and professed himself delighted to be injury-free and looking forward eagerly to the outdoor season and some big 5,000m efforts.

Still, the night belonged to Marcus O'Sullivan - a night of magnificent achievement, quiet satisfaction, and typically modest reflection for the man who left Cork 15 years ago to take up scholarship at Villanova and has done himself and his country proud in so many great races ever since.

Indoor sub-four number 47, surpassing the previous world record 46 of Steve Scott (USA) The above list excludes approximately 20 sub-four road miles and more than 90 metric 'equivalents' - 3:40 or faster for 1,500m.

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