Cragg keen to get cracking

Alistair Cragg is looking for a fast 5,000 metres performance tomorrow in Rome in his build-up to next month’s World Championships.

The Irish star, who was born in South Africa and now lives in the United States, is adamant he can make an impression in Osaka where the championships begin on August 25.

Cragg now believes he is approaching his best form after the setback of losing his European indoor 3000m title in March when returning from injury.

“It’s behind me – it’s not something that I really want to bring up or talk about,” he said of the injury problems which have affected him in the last 12 months.

“I’m healthy now. I had a bit of an Achilles and back problem and everything wasn’t in order.

“I’ve worked hard since March when I came back from Birmingham and kind of gave myself a kick in the rear end. Everything’s good now.

“I was very very disappointed on how I ran it and things like that. I really did learn a lot out there and I had to look deep inside myself.

“Maybe it might have been a good thing. It was the European indoors and an important title but I think it propelled me up to find the best in me.

“Touch wood – I’ve been healthy for four months or so and I’m just looking forward to getting back into it.”

Cragg, who started his European campaign in last Friday’s IAAF Golden League meeting in Paris, looked set to pull off a superb victory in the 3000m.

But he faded in the final metres, finishing fifth – although just a second behind Moses Kipsiro who won with a Ugandan record of seven minutes 39.02 seconds.

Cragg admitted: “I could probably have placed higher if I’d ran smarter.

“I’m strong enough and now I need to get sharpened up, but we’ve still got a few weeks before Osaka.”

Rome’s Olympic stadium will be a big test of his ability where he will be pitted against a predominantly African field with some world-class entries.

“I’m happy to get into a big race which it is going to be, I aim to stay well placed and put my head in there,” Cragg said.

“If I can prove my strength tomorrow night I know I’ll be all right for Osaka.”

Cragg insists a good display is what he wants before travelling to Dublin next weekend for the Irish National Championships.

He said: “I’ll go and spend the time with the Clonliffe group. They’re a good bunch who’ve looked after me for the last three or four years.”

David Gillick, who retained his European indoor 400m title in Birmingham, is also competing against a world-class field including top Americans Angelo Taylor and LaShawn Merritt.