Mark Carroll showed significant sharpening of his form ahead of next month's World Championships with an impressive run over 3,000 metres at the Lausanne Grand Prix last night. The Cork runner finished sixth behind an All Kenyan charge but his time of seven minutes 38.80 seconds-his fastest in two years-will be particularly satisfying.
Victory went to Paul Bitok in 7:32.61 but Carroll showed some encouraging aggression on the last few laps when he moved up through the field of 17 runners. He found the closing speed of the Kenyans a little too hot to handle at this stage of the season but it certainly puts him on course for a strong challenge in Edmonton.
Marion Jones had a scare in the 10 metres when she pushed all the way to line by Chandra Stirrup of Bahamas but the American was given the win in 11.04. No such problems for Maurice Greene, who equalled his own fastest time in the world this year with 9.90 victory.
Carroll returns to his native Cork for Saturday afternoon's Cork City Sports, where he will run the 1,500 metres. The event has temporarily moved to Cork's new Regional Athletics Stadium in the Cork Institute of Technology.
The Athletics Association of Ireland yesterday announced the Irish teams that will complete in the Cork meeting as part of a three-way competition with England and an International selection.
