Devastated Cragg trails in sixth as Gothenburg scars reopen

ALISTAIR CRAGG admitted yesterday that he is still haunted by his experience in the final of the 5,000m at the European outdoor championships in Gothenburg last year.

He was reflecting on a hugely disappointing performance in the 3,000m final at the European Indoor Championships in Birmingham, where he offered no resistance when the Italian outsider, Cosimo Caliandro, stripped him of the title he won in Madrid two years earlier.

Cragg appeared to be launching the decisive attack as the race plan fell into place in Gothenburg but, as quickly as he took up the lead he just stopped and limped off the track.