Sutton came to prominence as a marathon runner when she finished fifth in the 1995 Chicago Marathon. Then determined to qualify for the 1996 Summer Olympics she with coach Bud Baldaro scheduled training to cope with the heat expected in Atlanta.[1] However, she was not selected for the British team with Karen MacLeod and Suzanne Rigg taking the final two places alongside Liz McColgan.[2] This snub spurred Sutton on to win the Chicago Marathon in 1996 and completed the double win a year later.
Sutton was selected for the 2000 Summer Olympics as the only Briton.[3]