Cragg and Carroll plot to plunder golden grail

THE rise and rise of Alistair Cragg is expected to continue in the 3,000m final at the European indoor championships in Madrid tonight.

Cragg, who has beaten Ethiopian pair Kenenisa Bekele and Marko Geneti this season, recorded 7.54.91 to win his heat and the favourites tag ahead of home town hero Reyes Estevez.

Estevez produced a sprint finish to win the second heat at the Palacio de Deportes Comunidad de Madrid with Ireland's Mark Carroll and his ally Gunther Weidlinger from Austria also qualifying.