Athletics: Tulu to replace O'Sullivan in Manchester Run

The double Olympic gold medallist Derartu Tulu will replace Sonia O'Sullivan in the field for Sunday's BUPA Great Manchester Run.

The double Olympic gold medallist Derartu Tulu will replace Sonia O'Sullivan in the field for Sunday's BUPA Great Manchester Run.

The Ethiopian, who has twice won the Olympic 10,000metres title, has agreed to stand in for last year's winner of the 10-kilometre race.

"Sonia's still feeling the after-effects of the London Marathon and doesn't believe she can do herself justice in such a high-calibre race," said Matthew Turnbull, the race athletics director. "She's reluctantly withdrawn but left her decision as late as possible after reassessing her fitness following last weekend's Glasgow 10km."

O'Sullivan finished eighth in the Scottish race, and said she was struggling for fitness after the strains of running in London.

Turnbull has also seen the Olympic 5,000m silver medallist Isabella Ochichi withdraw from the race, but he is delighted to have Tulu as a late addition to the field.

"Fortunately she has a five-year visa to enter this country so that was the biggest problem immediately resolved," he said.

Tulu was beaten by Jelena Prokopcuka in the BUPA Great Caledonian Run only 11 days ago. The Latvian scored a victory over a very hilly Edinburgh course and is also in Sunday's race.

However, the Kenyan-born Lornah Kiplagat, who now runs for the Netherlands, will start as favourite to succeed O'Sullivan as champion. Kiplagat won in Glasgow and posted the fastest time in the United Kingdom this year of 31min 44sec.