Carroll chases Treacy's record at Fukuoka

MANY athletes are turning their attentions to the marathon. Over 10,000 are heading for Dublin on October 25 but Mark Carroll has his sights on a big one.

The 32-year-old Corkman, who made a sensational debut in New York a few years ago, has not had an opportunity to build on that until now. In two months he will line up for the Fukuoka in pursuit of John Treacy's national record which would give him every middle and long distance record from 3,000m to the classic distance.

He began his build-up on Sunday in Boston where he finished ninth in the BAA Half Marathon in 66:17 with Dubliner Vinny Mulvey 10th in 66:33. The race was won by Luke Metto in 62:57 in a finish with Wilson Kigon and Abderrahim Haji.

But it appeared for much of the distance Carroll was hell bent on a coast-to- coast victory as he led the field through the opening miles at a sparkling pace, enjoying a 28-second lead at three miles (14:52) before he was caught by Metto and company turning into Franklin Park.

Fukuoka will be an interesting assignment for the Corkman. The course record was set at 2:06:51 by Atsushi Fujita four years ago.

With just two weeks to go to the Adidas Dublin Marathon - the 25th anniversary running of the race - the entries have topped the 10,000 mark.

"It's incredible," race director Jim Aughney said yesterday. "Early entries were way up on the last few years but, based on the entry numbers we would normally receive in the last few weeks, we really did not expect to meet our target."

The first Dublin Marathon attracted a field of over 2,000 with a peak of 11,000 in 1982. And the elite field has also been reinforced this year. Zacharia Mpolokeng (South Africa) who won in 2001 and finished third two years ago, is back and will be joined this year by his brother, Tseko.

Last year's runner-up, Lezan Kimutai (Kenya) returns for his fourth attempt, while the best of the Irish is Donegal man, Gary Crossan, sixth last year.

The women's course record has been broken in the last two marathons and is likely to go again this time with Florence Barsosio, sister of the famous Kenyan track and marathon runner, Sally Barsosio, likely to start as favourite. Last year's runner up, Yelena Burykina (Russia) returns with two other Russians, twins Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva. The race will have a 9am start outside the Kilkenny Design on Nassau Street.

Marie Davenport's half marathon record in Boston still stands. For a time on Sunday it appeared as if Lorna Kiplagat might break it but she faded off the pace set by the Clare woman last year when she led all the way to set the record at 70:57 while, on Sunday, Kiplagat won in 72:05.