Cragg bids to get his season back on the road

ALISTAIR CRAGG wants to spearhead the Irish challenge at next month’s European cross-country championships and the European indoor championships in Birmingham in early March when he will defend his 3,000m title — his big priority.

However his immediate programme depends entirely on how he performs in Thursday’s Manchester Road Race in Connecticut. This will be his first major assignment since being stretchered off the track during the final of the 5,000m at the European championships.

The big Thanksgiving showpiece has always had a huge Irish interest. Mark Carroll won the race twice and his Leevale clubmate, Marcus O’Sullivan, also won it twice, while John Treacy and John Doherty won it and it was once dominated by Eamonn Coghlan.