Noel Carroll (runner)
Encyclopedia
Noel Carroll was an Irish
middle distance runner
who set European and World Records in the 1960s. He became the Dublin Corporation
's first official spokesman
, and later the Chief Executive of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce
, and led the group which founded the Dublin Marathon
.
, County Louth
in 1941, and left school to join the Army
where he began running. In 1962, while competing in the Millrose Games
in New York
, he was recruited by "Jumbo Elliott" and attended Villanova University
, where he joined the university's athletics team, the Villanova Wildcats
and won a number of track championships.
At Villanova, he ran a sub-four-minute mile
and in 1964, was the anchor for the team which broke the 4 x 880 yard relay World Record. In the same year, he also set the European Indoor record for the 880 yards and competed in the Olympic Games
in Tokyo in the Men's 800 metres
. When running against Bill Crothers
in 1964, Sports Illustrated
described Carroll as "one of the best middle-distance runners in the world".
He represented Ireland in the 400 metres
and the 800 metres
in the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico City
, and continued to win national championships (14 in total) and two further European Indoor Championships for the 800 metres during the 1960s.
In 1972, he became the spokesman for the Dublin Corporation (now known as Dublin City Council
), a post he held until 1996, when he joined the Dublin Chamber of Commerce as it's chief executive.
Noel Carroll died on October 23, 1998, after suffering a heart attack while training at University College Dublin
. In 2008, Carroll's four children took part in the Dublin Marathon to raise money for the Noel Carroll Building, the headquarters of a project in Kolkatta run by GOAL, a charity
for which Carroll had served as the Chairman.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
middle distance runner
Middle distance track event
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
who set European and World Records in the 1960s. He became the Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation , known by generations of Dubliners simply as The Corpo, is the former name given to the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin between 1661 and 1 January 2002...
's first official spokesman
Spokesman
A spokesperson or spokesman or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have received formal training in journalism, communications, public relations and...
, and later the Chief Executive of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce
Dublin Chamber of Commerce
Dublin Chamber of Commerce is one of the oldest such organisations in Europe and traces its origins back to the Autumn of 1695 when the Dublin shipping company of Ferris, Twiggs and Cash sent their vessel Ouzel Galley on an important trading journey to the near-Eastern Seas. With provisions, a crew...
, and led the group which founded the Dublin Marathon
Dublin Marathon
The Dublin Marathon is an annual marathon in Dublin, Ireland, normally held on the last Monday in October, which is a public holiday in Ireland. Held each year since 1980, in 2007 there were about 11,000 race participants, half of whom were from overseas....
.
Career
Noel Carroll was born in AnnagassanAnnagassan
Annagassan is a village in the townland of Ballynagassan, County Louth, Ireland. It sits where the River Glyde enters the Irish Sea.It was first mentioned as Linn Duachaill in AD 841 when the establishment of a Viking longphort was recorded...
, County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1941, and left school to join the Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
where he began running. In 1962, while competing in the Millrose Games
Millrose Games
The Millrose Games is an annual indoor athletics meet held on the first Friday in February in New York City. They will be held at the Armory in Washington Heights in 2012, after having taken place in Madison Square Garden from 1914 to 2011...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he was recruited by "Jumbo Elliott" and attended Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, where he joined the university's athletics team, the Villanova Wildcats
Villanova Wildcats
The Villanova Wildcats is the name of the athletic teams of Villanova University. They compete in the Big East for every sport except football, where they compete in the Colonial Athletic Association .-Men's basketball:The Villanova Wildcats compete in the Big EAST and are currently coached by Jay...
and won a number of track championships.
At Villanova, he ran a sub-four-minute mile
Four-minute mile
In the sport of athletics, the four-minute mile is the act of completing the mile run in less than four minutes. It was first achieved in 1954 by Roger Bannister in 3:59.4. The 'four minute barrier' has since been broken by many male athletes, and is now the standard of all male professional...
and in 1964, was the anchor for the team which broke the 4 x 880 yard relay World Record. In the same year, he also set the European Indoor record for the 880 yards and competed in the Olympic Games
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo in the Men's 800 metres
Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics - Men's 800 metres
The men's 800 metres was the middle of the seven men's track races in the Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics program in Tokyo. It was held on 14 October, 15 October, and 16 October 1964. 47 athletes from 32 nations entered, with 1 not starting the first round...
. When running against Bill Crothers
Bill Crothers
Bill Crothers is a retired Canadian athlete.At one point, Crothers held the Canadian record in all distances from 400 metres to 1500 metres and was holder of the world 800 metres indoor record. In 1963, he ran the two fastest 800 metres races of the year...
in 1964, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
described Carroll as "one of the best middle-distance runners in the world".
He represented Ireland in the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
and the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
in the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, and continued to win national championships (14 in total) and two further European Indoor Championships for the 800 metres during the 1960s.
In 1972, he became the spokesman for the Dublin Corporation (now known as Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
), a post he held until 1996, when he joined the Dublin Chamber of Commerce as it's chief executive.
Dublin Marathon
In 1980, Carroll led a group which approached the Business Houses Athletic Association and the Dublin Corporation with the idea for the Dublin Marathon. Carroll was also among the 2,100 people who competed in the race that year. The winner of the Marathon receives the Noel Carroll Memorial Trophy presented each year by one of Carroll's children.Noel Carroll died on October 23, 1998, after suffering a heart attack while training at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
. In 2008, Carroll's four children took part in the Dublin Marathon to raise money for the Noel Carroll Building, the headquarters of a project in Kolkatta run by GOAL, a charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
for which Carroll had served as the Chairman.