Carroll defends 3,000m

The Millrose Games have seen great Irish performances down the years, and tonight Mark Carroll, Niall Bruton and James Nolan hope to add to that long tradition in the 92nd edition of America's oldest indoor meeting at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Carroll has again entered the 3,000 metres, which he has won for the last three consecutive years. Yesterday he arrived from his training base in Florida, where last week he warmed up for tonight's race with a three minute 57.52 second victory in the Gainsville Invitational Mile.

The high-quality field assembled here includes Paul Bitok of Kenya and Olympic 5,000 metres silver medallist Khalid Kairouani on Morocco. The American challenge is likely to come from National champion Dan Browne and four-time Millrose winner Ruben Reina.

The Wannamaker Mile has always been the main feature of the meeting, and tonight Bruton goes in search of his third win, after victories in 1994 and 1996. Bruton returned to his American base after Christmas and has been preparing specifically for this race, although with Kenyans William Tanui and Robert Kibet in the 11-man field it won't be an easy task for the Dubliner.

Eamonn Coghlan, who still holds the Wannamaker Mile record, is among five athletes to be inducted into the inaugural Millrose Games Hall of Fame tonight.