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.

Both events are organised by New York Road Runners, who yesterday announced that this month’s marathon had 36,562 finishers, making it the largest in the world.

The 2004 New York race, won by South African Hendrik Ramaala with Paula Radcliffe of Britain heading home the women, eclipsed the 1996 Boston Marathon which had held the top spot with 35,868 finishers. New York is also in third place with 34,729 finishers in 2003.