Medals may prove beyond them, but Ireland's track and field stars could be in for a record-breaking few weeks at the Beijing Olympics.

Back, knee and calf muscle. It is hard to believe that 400 metres starlet Joanne Cuddihy is on the cusp of her Olympic debut, after a summer full of injury frustration.

It has emerged that Alistair Cragg's withdrawal from the 3000m at Tuesday night's Grand Prix meeting in Monaco was not down to illness - the Irish middle distance star dropped out due to an Achilles injury.

Alistair Cragg's final race before the Beijing Olympics did not go to plan last night as he was forced to pull out of the 3000m at the Monaco Grand Prix meeting.