Just as our latest issue of New England Runner arrives trumpeting the appearance of Irish ace Mark Carroll in the men's field at Boston, so too does word arrive from overseas that Carroll has a hip injury and is opting out. Ironically, World Record Holder Khalid Khannouchi also just dropped from the Flora London Marathon with tonsolitis.

From the current issue of NER:

Is Boston slipping? Will the tidal wake of the awesomely talented Flora London Marathon capsize the venerable Grande Dame of marathoning? Will the unofficial Kenyan National Championships play out yet again on the macadam stretching from bucolic Hopkinton to bustling Beantown?

The answer is Yes, Maybe and Yes, but sock away the life preservers for yet another year--just as pint-sized Kenyan Margaret Okayo belted out her rendition of Aretha's R.E.S.P.E.C.T. with a new Boston Marathon women's course record in 2002--so too will Providence, Rhode Island resident Mark Carroll (County Cork's latter day John Treacy), and legitimate American threat--we repeat, Legitimate American Threat--Marla Runyon, refocus attention on the Patriot's Day Parade.

With a 2:10:04 sixth place debut performance in New York this past November, former Providence College ace Carroll was already contemplating a sub 2:08:00, commenting to Irish Runner editor Frank Greally: "I know that my New York City time is worth at least a few minutes on a flat European course and, if Dave Bedford is generous to me, I would like to attempt a really fast time in London next April."

Our friends across the pond may have run out of generosity early on after signing World Record holder Paula Radcliffe to a 300,000 appearance fee (excluding prize money and bonuses) to appear in London on April 13. There she'll face off against the woman whose record she took in Chicago, Catherine Ndereba, one of two 2001 Boston Marathon champions signed by London (Lee Bong-ju being the other).

Also signed are World Record holder Khalid Khannouchi, plus the second fastest marathoner in history, Paul Tergat, plus Olympic marathon gold medalist Gezahenge Abera, and double Olympic 10,000m gold medalist Derartu Tulu, and top American distance diva Deena Drossin, and on and on...

Outside of New York City, the largest contingent of Irish in the US is situated in Boston; Carroll is huge in terms of regional and international interest. Training at altitude in Alberquerque, NM, he is dead serious about mounting a challenge at Boston. Like Runyon, he's a newcomer carrying explosive track speed as witnessed by his Irish national records at 3000m (7:30.36), 5000m (13:03.93) and 10,000m (27:46.82).

The Leevale man will be the first Irish threat in decades, running in the footsteps of John Treacy and Andy Ronan, with one eye on the Kenyans and another on Treacy's Irish national record of 2:09:18.

When has Marla Runyon ever had a bad race? The question is facetious because she hasn't...And on it goes in the current issue of the mag. Suffice that there is a great American women's field assembled for Boston, and one in which 2001/2002 top American Jill Gaitenby will most likely place 4th or 5th.