Mark Carroll Back On Form For Second
Dennehy Willis Fourth at Manchester
By T. Patrick O'Dowd
Manchester, Connecticut, USA -
Thursday, 25 November 1999
Mark Carroll won a brilliant 1500m - 5,000m double at the Irish Championships in July and set an Irish record in the 3,000 (7:30.36 - ranked 7th in the World 1999) in August. However, the Leevale star had more problems with his iron count in his blood than with rivals on the track this summer. For the past three months, Carroll has been piling on the miles and supplementing them with plenty of vitamins under the watchful eye of his coach Jim Harvey.
Mark Carroll & Amy Rudolph (Who Placed Third)
Shown Here At A Wedding In September '99
Photos by T.Patrick O'Dowd
Carroll told Ian O'Riordan of the Irish Times, "I've definitely put the iron problem behind me now but you do have to stay on top of it to make sure it doesn't creep back. The form is good even though it's just mileage training at the moment and this race is always a good indication of how things are progressing at this time of year."
More than 11,000 runners toed the line, braving pouring rain, and 42-degree (Fahrenheit) temperatures. Carroll, who uses this race annually to test his fitness, took the lead straightaway pulling the pack through the first mile in 4:26. A pack comprised of Carroll, Nick Rogers (USA) and David Makori (Kenya) hit two miles together. Makori took the lead from Carroll, then ran the third mile in 4:18 opening a 15 -metre gap. Carroll caught the Kenyan, content to test his mettle in the final mile. Makori managed to edge the Irish Olympian at the finish running 21:27 for the 4.748-mile race missing the course record by eight seconds. Carroll finished a tick behind (21:28) - a full 21 seconds faster than his time last year, which was good enough for a victory.
Other Irish finishers included Clonliffe's Neville Davey (Charlestown, Co. Mayo), 19th in 23:10; Ken Nason (Metro-St Brigid's) 21st in 23:13; and Donal O'Sullivan (Donore Harriers A.C.) 25th in 23:33. There is big Irish group is forming Stateside these days, with Nason, Davey, and Niall Bruton (Clonliffe Harriers) training with Mark Carroll. Leevale's Martin McCarthy is set to join with them after Christmas as they make serious preparations for the Sydney Olympics in Florida, USA.
Breeda Dennehy-Willis
Deena Drossin of Alamosa, Colorado, USA, won the women's title for the second consecutive year, in 24:12 -- six seconds off Cathy O'Brien's record set in 1991. She won $2,500, as did Makori. Breeda Dennehy-Willis (Bandon) was fourth in 25:14 and Marie McMahon (Ennistymon, Co. Clare) ran 25:50 for eighth.
MEN
1. David Makori Kenya 21:27
2. Mark Carroll Ireland 21:28
3. Philip Kurui Kenya 21:39
4. Karl Keska Great Britain 21:40
5. Nick Rogers United States 21:42
6. Sean Kaley Canada 21:50
7. Mark Coogan United States 21:55
8. Brian Baker United States 22:01
9. Leonared Mucheru Kenya 22:03
10. Ben Noad Great Britain 22:09
Women
1. Deena Drossin United States 24:12
2. Laura Baker United States 25:00
3. Amy Rudolph United States 25:11
4. Breeda Dennehy-Willis Ireland 25:14
5. Kathy Butler Great Britain 25:24
6. Elva Dryer United States 25:35
7. Judi St. Hilaire(40+) United States 25:37
8. Marie McMahon Ireland 25:50
9. Carol Howe Canada 26:00
10. Anne Wambui Kenya 26:13
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