Carroll in final build-up

Athletics: Mark Carroll will have his final race before the Sydney Olympics at the Berlin Grand Pix this evening, the last stage of the IAAF Golden League series. In running the 3,000 metres, Carroll is hoping to fine-tune his preparations for Sydney, where he will compete over his regular distance of 5,000 metres.

It's not the first time that Carroll has used the shorter distances in his Olympic build-up.

And the quality of this evening's line-up is sure to bring out the best in the Corkman. The Algerian, Ali Saidi Sief, fastest in the world this year, is among the African-dominated field. Carroll departs for Australia tomorrow to join the Irish training camp in Newcastle.

Berlin, the climax of the Golden League series, sees five athletes still in the hunt for a share of the jackpot of 50kg of gold - worth around $1 million.

So far, only America's Gail Devers - five-time winner of the 100-metre hurdles - can be certain of a share. Yesterday, however, she pulled out of the meeting with a thigh injury. Still in the hunt, with four wins to their credit, are Maurice Greene (100 metres), Hicham El Guerrouj (1,500 metres), Trine Hattestad (javelin) and Tatyana Kotova (long jump).

Tennis: South African Vaughan Synman (26), used a sound service game to lay the basis for a surprise win over number three seed Barry Fulcher of Britain in the quarter-finals of the Men's Irish Open tennis championships at Templeogue, Dublin, last evening, reports Pat Roche.

He exploited clever variation on serve to unhinge Fulcher's chances of claiming his allotted place in tonight's semi-finals with a 6-2 6-3 win.

Snyman plays Owen Casey, the Irish hope who is enjoying his best season on the domestic scene, having won all nine tournaments he has played in this year. Casey strolled to a 6-2 6-0 win over Gary Kilduff.