Late spurt likely to push entries past 1982 record

Athletics Dublin Marathon: After 22 years the popularity of running 26.2 miles around the capital city's streets has peaked again. Entries for this year's adidas Dublin Marathon yesterday surpassed the 10,000-mark - two weeks before race day on bank holiday Monday, October 25th.

It means Dublin will have its highest number of runners since 1982, when 11,076 entered the third edition of the event. The drop-out rate on the day was significant, so this year's race could yet produce a record number of finishers.

It being the 25th edition of the event has influenced the number of entries, with the Irish participation well up on recent years. Last year just under 8,000 runners signed up, but the amount of Irish runners determined to get around this year has increased that number.

Race director Jim Aughney described the final figure as "incredible", particularly the numbers entering so close to the race date: "Early entries were up on the last few years," he said, "but based on the numbers we would normally receive in the last few weeks, we really did not expect to meet our target.

"So we're delighted to finally break the 10,000-mark again. And one of the most interesting things about this year's field is the Irish entry, which is way up on previous years."

With about 2,000 entries arriving last week alone before Friday's closing date, a large number of entries will have to be processed before getting a final figure. Certainly the 1,420 who finished in 1980 will be dwarfed.

The prize fund of €93,000 (with 15,000 to the top man and woman) has attracted a fair share of elite runners, including 2001 winner Zacharia Mpolokeng of South Africa. Last year's runner-up, Lezan Kimutai of Kenya, also returns, as does Donegal's Gary Crossan, chasing a third successive top Irish finish.

The top women entry appears to be Florence Barsosio, sister of well-known Kenyan runner Sally Barsosio. The majority of runners will be intent just on finishing, including, perhaps, actor Daniel Day Lewis, who has taken to road running with real vigour in recent months. The organisers, however, could not confirm his entry.

Mark Carroll, meanwhile, has committed to running the Fukuoka marathon in Japan on December 5th. On Sunday Carroll finished ninth in the Boston half marathon, leading by around 28 seconds approaching the five-mile mark, before fading to finish in 66 minutes 18 seconds. The 32- year-old Cork athlete will be having his third go at the distance, having finished sixth in New York two years ago and dropping out in London in April.