Cragg adds lustre to international field at Cork

ALISTAIR CRAGG joins the international stars at Cork City Sports at The Mardyke tomorrow week.

The former European indoor 3,000m champion and national record holder at 10,000m will compete in the 1,500m. He has Olympic qualification standards at 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m but has opted for the 5,000m and, after Cork, he will compete in the 5,000m in Paris the following week before rounding off his preparations for Beijing at the London Grand Prix.

He is an exciting addition to the 1,500m field in Cork, which will include at least two Kenyans, Cornelius Chirchir who has run 3:30 and Bernard Kiptum (3:33.23), as well as Rob Myers from the USA, Adrian Blincoe from New Zealand and the Australian champion, Mitch Kealey.

And it will be a big race for some of Ireland’s rising stars, including Ciaráin Ó Lionaird, on his home turf, and Dubliner Colm Rooney.

Paul Hession’s performance at the permit meeting in Salamanca when he won the 200m and finished third in the 100m highlighted his continued progression towards Beijing. Next Wednesday night he competes in Thessalonika before arriving in Cork where he will again compete in both the 100m and 200m.

The two Jamaicans who will run against him at The Mardyke were second and third behind the world 100m record holder, Usain Bolt, in the 200m final at their national championships at the weekend. Bolt, who beat Osafa Powell to win the 100m title, completed the double in 19.97sec with the Cork-bound pair chasing him home, Marvin Anderson second in 20.17sec and Christopher Williams third in 20.20sec.

Meanwhile, Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank) will have as busy schedule at the world junior championships which take place in Bydgoszcz, Poland, next week. The Irish Examiner Junior Sports Star award winner for 2007 runs in two individual events (100m and 200m) and has also been named on the Irish 4x100m relay team.

A team of 22 has been selected by Athletics Ireland for the championships which run from July 8-13. Also included will be schools 400m sensation Brian Gregan who recently equalled the national junior record to underscore his potential. The Tallaght athlete will also compete in the men’s 4x400m relay, with US-based thrower Colin Quirke named for the shot putt.

Niamh Whelan is one of a number of athletes from the Ferrybank club in Waterford on the team. Her clubmates Kalyn Sheehan and Jessie Barr both compete in the 400m hurdles while Sandra Lawlor and Mairead Murphy compete in the 100m hurdles.

The strength of middle distance running at this level is highlighted by Sara Treacy and Ciara Mageean in the women’s 1,500m, with Ciara Everard (Kilkenny City Harriers) in the 800m.