Confident Cragg ready for title defence after easing into final

ALISTAIR CRAGG faces one of the most important assignments of his career when defending his European indoor 3,000m title in Birmingham this afternoon (3.40pm).

The defending champion eased his way through to the final in third place behind Jesus Espana (Spain) and Gunther Weidlinger (Austria) with another medal favourite, Mo Farah, having to wait for a place among the fastest qualifiers after falling at half way.

All the big guns are safely through although the European leader and new French record holder, Bouabdellah Tahri, also had to settle for third place in the second heat won by Halil Akkas of Turkey from the Italian, Cosimo Caliandro.