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

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Triple World Indoor 1,500m Champion in 45 Minute Interview

Marcus O'Sullivan - Photo: Neal Simpson/EMPICS Sport

February 25th, just a few days ago, saw the 20th anniversary of Marcus O'Sullivan's remarkable 101st, and final, sub-4 minute Mile, which he set in Melbourne, Australia. He was interviewed, on Off the Ball, on the occassion, speaking on how he 'got into coaching', and outlined some of his approach and philosophy.


Leevale AC's Marcus O’Sullivan is one of only three athletes to run 100, or more, sub-4:00 miles. He joined American Steve Scott (136 sub-4:00 miles) and New Zealander John Walker (124 sub-4:00 miles), on that list on February 13th, 1998, when he ran 3:58.10, at the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games.

His final sub-4:00 mile -- his 101st -- took place 12 days later, in Melbourne, Australia. In that final sub-4 performance, O'Sullivan came third behind Kenyans Daniel Komen (3:53.63) and Noah Ngeny (3:56.06). He also ran the metric equivalent of the sub-4:00 mile (i.e., sub 3:42.2, over 1500 meters) an additional 83 times in his career, to produce a staggering level of consistency.

As Marcus explain's in the interview below, each Mile had to meet minimum criteria, and had to be fully documented, hence he ran his 101st sub-4, "just to be sure", in case one of the first 100 was 'scratched', for not meeting the criteria.  In the event, all 100 sub-4's stood, along with the 'insurance run'.

Triple World 1,500m Indoor Champion

Marcus O’Sullivan is a three-time World Indoor 1500 meter Champion; In 1987 (Indianapolis), 1989 (Budapest), and 1993 (Toronto). He set championship records in each of his 1987 and 1989 victories. He was also 4th in the 1991 Seville world indoor championships.

Olympic Games

He represented Ireland at four Olympic Games: 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996, at both 800 meters and 1500 meters and reached the 1500 meter finals at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Millrose Games - Wannamaker Mile

He won the prestigious Wanamaker Mile in Madison Square Garden's Millrose Games five times (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1992).
His PB for the mile is 3:50.96, which he set indoors, in East Rutherford, NJ, on February 13, 1988,  and his PB for 1500 meters is 3:33.65, which he set in 1992.

World Records

He set an indoor 1500 meters world record of 3:35.4, on February 10, 1989.

He was one of a quartet of Irish runners, along with Ray Flynn, Eamonn Coghlan, and Frank O'Mara, who set the still standing world record in the 4 by 1 Mile relay, at the UCD Belfield track, in Dublin, on August 17, 1985, runing 15:49.08.

Off-the-Ball Interview

Indianapolis World Championpionship 1,500m 1987

Cork City Sports 1988 - Mardyke Arena

Marcus O'Sullivan's Records

Outdoor

Indoor

Marcus O'Sullivan's 101 Sub-4 Miles

World indoor legends – Marcus O’Sullivan

Marcus O'Sullivan's Villanova Bio

Marcus O'Sullivan's Wikipedia Entry

Marcus O'Sullivan (born 22 December 1961) is a retired Irish middle distance runner. Although he wasn't planning to go to any of Ireland's universities, O'Sullivan's running encouraged him to go to Villanova University at 19. After four years of education at Villanova, O'Sullivan graduated with a degree in accounting and later attained an MBA and a CPA.

Career

O'Sullivan quickly became a world class runner, and took part in four summer Olympic Games. He won three gold medals at the World Indoor Championships over 1500m. He is third all-time (trailing Steve Scott, at 137 and John Walker, at 127) with total sub-4 minute miles, at 101.

The three World Indoor 1500 metre Championships won by O'Sullivan were in 1987 (Indianapolis), 1989 (Budapest), and 1993 (Toronto). In his victories in 1987 and 1989, he set championship records. He was 4th in the 1991 Seville world indoor championships.

At the 1985 European Athletics Indoor Championships, O'Sullivan won a silver medal in the 1500m.

O'Sullivan qualified for four Olympic Games for Ireland: 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996, at both 800 metres and 1500 metres. He reached the 1500 metre finals at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

He set an indoor 1500 metres world record of 3:35.4 on 10 February 1989, and was generally regarded as a better competitor running indoors. This is evidenced by the fact that O'Sullivan won the prestigious Wanamaker Mile in Madison Square Garden's Millrose Games six times (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, and 1996).

His personal best for the mile, which was set indoors in 1988, is 3:50.94. His personal best for the 1500 metres, which was set outdoors in 1996, is 3:33.61.

O'Sullivan, along with Irish runners Ray Flynn, Eamonn Coghlan, and Frank O'Mara established the still standing world record in the 4 x 1 mile relay, when they combined in Dublin on August 17, 1985 to run 15:49.08.

O'Sullivan now runs the RunningWorks cross country camp during the summer, and is the head coach of Villanova cross country and track and field. He was coached by Tom Donnelly of Haverford College and advised Bob Kennedy in the later years before Kennedy's retirement.

In addition to his ties to American record holder Bob Kennedy, O'Sullivan has coached elite professional runners such as Canadian indoor world silver medalist Carmen Douma-Hussar, and New Zealander Adrian Blincoe.

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