Carroll gets timely boost

Mark Carroll yesterday sharpened his form for the World Indoor Championships next weekend with victory over 1,500 metres in the Sindelfingen Indoor meeting in Germany. Carroll clocked three minutes 40.42 seconds, and although the competition was limited, it was useful preparation for the 3,000 metres at the world tests in Lisbon.

After arriving from his American base on Friday, the Corkman was eager for one more race in the countdown to Lisbon, where the 3,000 metre field is set to include Olympic 5,000 champion Million Wolde of Ethiopia and world 1,500 metre record holder Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco. On this occasion, Carroll dominated the race and finished some two seconds clear of Austria's Guenther Weidlinger. The European indoor champion now travels straight to Lisbon, where he knows he won't have it as easy in Friday's heats, in what will be his first 3,000 metres of the season.

James Nolan was also down to run the 1,500 metres in Sindelfingen, but instead headed straight to Lisbon without a further test of form before heats of the 1,500 metres, also on Friday.

Karen Shinkins was also just off the plane from the US but still managed a second place finish in the 400 metres, clocking 53.40 seconds behind Romania's Ionela Tirlea.

Peter Coghlan also concluded his preparations for Lisbon with a sixth place finish in the 60 metre hurdles in 7.76. Meanwhile, Maurice Greene made his introduction to the indoor season at the US championships in Atlanta at the weekend and ended up equalling his world record in the 60 metres. The Olympic champion won his semi-final in the record-equalling 6.39, then went on to win the final in 6.51.

Surprisingly, Greene ruled out defending the world indoor gold medal he won two years ago. "My aim this year is to defend my 100 and 200m (outdoor) titles at the World Championships," he said.