Carroll wins mile in season opener

Two weeks before the Irish team assembles for their important European Cup meeting, a number of performances of note were achieved over the weekend. Firstly, there was Mark Carroll, who opened his summer track season with victory in the mile at the Moonlight Invitational at Attleboro, just outside Boston. The European bronze medalist over 5000 metres had almost a second to spare over the next finisher, American Brian Baker, his winning time being three minutes 56.90 seconds.

There was another impressive run by David Matthews over 800 metres when he finished second at the Siki Memorial in Ljubljana, Slovenia yesterday. Matthews made a late charge from fifth place in the final 150 metres to finish in 1:47.70, his fastest time this season. Matthews passed his Irish team-mate James McIlroy in the last few strides, McIlroy holding on for third in 1:48.02.

Elsewhere, Susan Smith-Walsh managed fourth place in her speciality, the 400 metre hurdles, at the US Open Grand Prix in Edwardsville, Illinois. Her time of 55.99 seconds left her a few yards behind world record holder Kim Batten of the US, who won in 54.52.

There was also a fourth place finish for Elaine Fitzgerald of Waterford while setting a new personal best of 4:10.41 in the 1500 metres. Anna Jakubczack of Poland won the race in 4:08.77, the fastest in the world this year, although Fitzgerald's time is well inside the B standard for the World Championships in Seville later this summer.

At home, Niall Bruton outkicked a mainly domestic field to win the Fila Open Mile with a time of 4:03.58 at the Mary Peters track in Belfast on Saturday. Bruton made all the running from the third lap and picked up £700 for his efforts, but a strong wind hindered his attempt to break four minutes and collect a further bonus. Belfast's Gareth Turnbull held on for second with a time of 4:04.03.

Meanwhile, Ger Healy of Civil Service also had to overcame the windy conditions as well as a slight detour when winning the BLE National Marathon in Sligo yesterday. His time of two hours, 18 minutes and six seconds left him well clear of defending champion Dick Hooper of Raheny. Mary Jennings of Waterford just failed to break three hours in taking the women's title.