Mixed fortunes for Irish pair

Ireland’s Mark Carroll could compete over the 5,000 metres as well as the marathon at this summer’s Olympics after meeting the qualification standard.

He ran a superb 13 minutes and 18.75 seconds for the 5,000m at Stanford over the weekend, giving him the option to double up in Athens.

Already qualified for the marathon, the Corkman might relish the opportunity of competing at a distance in which he is the Irish record holder.

He won a European bronze medal in the 5,000m at Budapest in 1998.

Carroll did not win the Stanford race, having to settle for second place behind Kenya’s Joseph Koskei who ran 13:16.83.

Carroll may now also aim to qualify for the 10,000m to give himself the maximum possible choice ahead of Athens.

If he runs the 5,000m in Greece, he will be joined by Leevale club-mate Cathal Lombard and Alistair Cragg.

In Boston, meanwhile, Irishwoman Marie Davenport was less fortunate.

Recently qualified for the Olympic 10,000m, she was agonisingly close to booking a spot in the 5,000m.

Running a personal best of 15:09.07, she was just 0.37secs outside the standard.

The race was won by American Marla Runyan in the world’s second fastest time of the year, 14:59.20.