Carroll on marks early in New Year

MARK CARROLL will start 2005 at full speed after entering a four-mile midnight run in New York’s Central Park on New Year’s Eve.

The race, an annual event since 1979, starts at midnight on New Year’s Eve, winding its way along the roads of Central Park and race officials believe Irish Olympian Carroll will head the field.

Carroll was due to run in the ING New York City Marathon on November 7. However, an injury following a disappointing Olympics, forced the Corkman to withdraw from the race well in advance.