Carroll excited about new US role

MARK CARROLL has been appointed the US Athlete Manager for Athletics Ireland.

The former European Champion takes up the part-time post, which has been supported by the Irish Sports Council (ISC), to assist Irish athletes on scholarship or training in the US.

Carroll, who is based in Providence, Rhode Island will take up the post immediately. The Leevale athlete is already coaching three of Ireland’s top athletes, with Gareth Turnbull, Mark Christie and Liam Reale all who have been training under the watchful eye of Carroll in the US. Other Irish athletes based in the US include, Mary Cullen, Roisín McGettigan and Alistair Cragg and they will all be able to liaise regularly with Carroll in his new role. Carroll is one of Ireland’s most talented athletes with both a European gold and bronze medal to his name, while he is also the holder of national outdoor records at 3,000 and 5,000 metres. He is still competing as a top level athlete and is aiming to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in the 10,000 metres.

The 36-year-old is looking forward to his new role as Athletics Ireland’s first US Athlete Manager. “This position is a great move for Irish athletes in the US. It will give them a point of contact in America, someone who they can call at any time for advice on training, travel or just a chat. I have been over there a long time now and am very familiar with how it all works. I will also be keeping an eye on their progress and form to make sure they are doing the right things to help themselves improve,” Carroll said on his appointment.

Meanwhile veteran athletics coach John McDonnell has announced he is retiring as head track and field coach at the University of Arkansas following the end of the 2008 outdoor season.

McDonnell, from Mayo, has been in charge at Arkansas for 36 years, winning 42 national titles for the Razorbacks across indoor track, outdoor track and cross country, more than any coach in any sport in US collegiate history.

He has also been named national coach of the year 30 times across the three disciplines and has guided the track careers of 23 Olympians including US triple jump gold medalist Mike Conley and Irishmen Frank O’Mara, Niall Bruton, Paul Donovan, Niall O’Shaughnessy and currently Alistair Cragg, who won seven NCAA titles and the European 3000m indoor title under McDonnell’s watch.

“There is never a good time,” McDonnell, 70 in July, said of his decision. “I want to spend some time with my family. I never saw my kids graduate for high school or college. While they are still around and I’m still around, I want to spend more time with them. It was a very tough decision to make especially leaving a bunch of great athletes. I know they will be in good hands otherwise I wouldn’t have left.

“I’ll coach the professional athletes I’ve been working with if they want. I’m not getting out of it entirely. I’ll coach on a part-time basis. If I was 10 years younger I’d still be coaching (full-time).