Final place for Cragg

Alistair Cragg qualified for Sunday’s World Championships indoor final in Moscow but looked a shadow of the runner who won last year’s European indoor 3000 metres title.

The South African-born Irish star, now based in the United States, clinched the last guaranteed place in the final, when he finished fourth in his heat.

Cragg, returning from injury, clocked seven minutes 53.74 seconds, although at one stage he fell back into eighth position.

Former world 5000m outdoor champion Eliud Kipchoge, won in 7:52.57 ahead of Tariku Bekele and Saif Saaeed Shaheen, who produced marks of 7:52.58 and 7:52.85.

Olympic and World 10000m title holder Kenenisa Bekele, comfortably took the second heat in a slightly slower 7:54.85.

The Ethiopian is expected to run a tactical race in the final, helped by his younger brother, to counter the threat of Kipchoge and Shaheen.

Bekele, seemingly ruling out Cragg as a medal challenger, said: “Shaheen and Kipchoge will be my main challengers, but the other athletes like the Moroccans, should not be overlooked.”

Emily Maher and Ailis McSweeney, fourth and fifth in their 60m heats with times of 7.38secs and 7.44secs, moved into the evening’s semi-finals.

But it will take a tremendous effort for either to snatch a place in the final.