Ireland pin Euro hopes on new recruit Cragg

ALASTAIR CRAGG will be the focus of attention when he lines up for the European cross-country championships in Medulin, Croatia, tomorrow.

It will be the South African’s first appearance in an Irish singlet and, if he can reproduce his NCAA form he could finish quite close to the medals.

The 22 year-old Arkansas student - a 13:22 5,000m runner - was pipped for the NCAA title in Indiana by Jorge Torres of Colorado, who finished 11th in the short course race at the world cross-country championships in Leopardstown.

Cragg, who was third last year, would have won the NCAA title were it not for the fact that he launched his attack too early according to his Arkansas coach, Irishman John McDonnell.

“He is an exciting athlete,” said Irish team manager, Jerry Kiernan. “But how he performs on Sunday could depend on how he recovers from the trip from the US.”

Cragg, whose parents now reside in London, met up with the other members of the Irish team a Heathrow yesterday morning for the next leg of his trip.”

The Irish men’s team, already weakened by the injury to Keith Kelly, a former winner of the NCAA cross-country title, was reduced to five when Cathal Lombard cried off with a hip injury.

The reserve, Dermot Donnelly, was unable to get off work and the AAI did not go down to the next man, Martin McCarthy.

The Corkman said yesterday he would have welcomed the opportunity to take part in the race.

Seamus Power admitted he was surprised the AAI decided to send just five runners but said Alastair Cragg was going to be a good addition to the team. “If he can reproduce his NCAA form he will have quite a run,” he said. “But unfortunately it does not always work out like that.”

Apart from last year when he had a disappointing run in Thun, Seamus Power has a very good record in the race since 1996 when he finished 13th. He has been 14th and 17th since.

“Before the inter-counties I felt I was in pretty good shape but I did not really know what to expect from the others,” he said. “They had all been running very well but I felt really good on the day.

“I think right now I am in really good shape.”