Cragg leads Irish line-up

Alistair Cragg will head Ireland’s bid for medals at the European Indoor Championships taking place in Madrid from March 4-6.

Cragg, the only European to qualify for last summer’s Olympic 5,000 metres final in Athens, currently leads the world lists with his seven minutes 39.89 seconds winning performance over Kenenisa Bekele in Boston nine days.

The US-based athlete will start the race as hot favourite as he seeks to match the achievement of fellow Irishman Mark Carroll five years ago.

Carroll is as yet undecided as to whether he will compete or not, but the former champion will be given every opportunity by the selectors to make his mind up closer to the event.

David Gillick, whose season’s best of 47.28secs puts him eighth in the 400m rankings, will compete in the one-lap race.

Paul Hession and Paul Brizell make a formidable duo in the 200m with every chance that one if not both could make the final.

Leevale pair Ailis McSweeney and Derval O’Rourke are the sole female qualifiers so far while UCD’s Deirdre Ryan could make history by becoming the first Irish female field eventer to make a major championship indoor final in the high jump.