Big Apple marathon now Carroll’s focus

MARK CARROLL will today be confirmed as an entrant in this year’s ING New York City Marathon on November 6.

The Irish Olympian, who missed out on selection for this month’s IAAF world championships in Helsinki, has been lined up by race organisers New York Road Runners to appear on a media conference call this afternoon to announce his participation.

US-based Carroll had intended to concentrate on running marathons following Helsinki but last month’s failed bid to qualify for the worlds in the 10,000 metres has brought the training schedule forward.

The Corkman had the A qualifying standard at 5,000m but felt he could not make a significant impact over that shorter distance and had been focusing on the 10,000.

But the nearest the 33-year-old came to the 27 minutes 49 seconds standard was a time of 28:40.40 in Canada in June, almost a full minute slower than his Irish national record time of 27:46.82 set five years ago.

Carroll’s marathon debut came in New York in 2002 when he finished sixth in 2 hours 10 minutes 54 seconds.

However, injuries have restricted him to just one further start over the 26.2 mile distance, and that was an abortive run in London last year as he struggled with a pelvic problem.

The Leevale AC athlete joins a men’s field that already features defending champion Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa and Olympic marathon silver medal winner and last year’s New York runner-up Meb Keflezighi of the United States.

Another Irish former Providence College track star Marie Davenport, who will be competing in Helsinki, has already been announced for the women’s field in New York.