Cragg sets sights on sub-13 minute 5,000m

ALISTAIR CRAGG insisted that a sub-13 minute 5,000m is a definite target for him as he put the finishing touches to his preparations for tomorrow night’s Gaz de France Golden League meeting in Paris.

A month ago the European indoor 3,000m champion was running his first 5,000m race in over a year when he ran a new personal best for the distance on Randall’s Island, finishing fifth in a quality race in 13:08.97.

Since then the 13-minute mark has been a target and he has been hinting at a fast run in the Stade de France tomorrow night, when he lines up alongside the world and Olympic 10,000m champion, Kenenisa Bekele, who will have his younger brother, Tariku, in support.

Also included is reigning world champion Benjamin Limo from Kenya, and Ethiopian Sileshi Sihine, who holds the 10,000m silver medals from both Athens and Helsinki.

“But I am not just going to try and run a fast time, I want to be competitive,” the Irishman insisted.

“I have run against Bekele and beat him before and I would like to think I could do that again.”

Before arriving in Cork last weekend for the BUPA Cork City Sports Cragg said he would have 13 minutes as his target when he went to Paris. He was having his first race since a viral infection a couple of weeks earlier and, on the advice of his coach he switched from the 3,000m to 1,500m at The Mardyke.

“I was very happy with the run. It was my first 1,500m in two years and I ran pretty well. I was looking further ahead to what might happen later on in the season.

“I had just come over from the States, I ran a shorter race and I think I ran really good. I felt good, I felt strong. On the back of that I felt I could run a really big personal best.”

Cragg said 13 minutes for 5,000m is a very realistic target for him this year. “It is a realistic target and I know that I would have run it last year if I had not got injured,” he said. “I am definitely much stronger than I was two years ago.

“Maybe it will not be a target on Saturday but I would like to think that it is a possibility. It would be a nice surprise.”

However, his target is Gothenburg and the European championships in a month’s time and both he and his coach are focused on that.

“Whatever I can do this weekend will show what I can do in Gothenburg,” he added.