Disappointment for Ireland as injury forces Cragg out

IRELAND’S hopes of carrying indoor track glory onto the world cross country stage this weekend received a blow when Alistair Cragg was forced to withdraw from the world championships due to injury.

Euro indoors kingpin Cragg was set to lead the Irish team in France at the World Cross Country Championships in Saint-Etienne/Saint-Galmier.

A pinched nerve in his back, however, has forced his withdrawal from both the 4km individual race on Saturday and the 12km team race 24 hours later. Irish team manager Patsy McGonagle said it was unlikely that a replacement will be named.

"It is very disappointing news," McGonagle said. "Alistair was going to be the focus for the weekend obviously the entire team is important but Alistair was the one European athlete who could possibly challenge the Africans in this terrain."

That view was shared by the athlete himself. "I was really looking forward to the worlds and I really fancied my chances there," Cragg admitted. "But I haven't been running at all and after speaking with Coach (John) McDonnell we've decided to give it a miss and get healthy again rather than run in France and risk giving a half-hearted performance.

The Clonliffe Harrier suffered the injury last Wednesday following an eight-mile training run on trails close to the University of Arkansas campus where he is completing his degree following a star-studded collegiate career under McDonnell. He believes his long journey back from Madrid to the US could have contributed to the back problem.

"I was fine in Madrid but like a lot of indoor athletes I have a tight back and jumping on a plane and coming back didn't help. I'd just been for a run and within 50 metres of stopping and walking back I was unable to take another step. It hurts each time my foot lands on the ground."

McDonnell then put Cragg through his paces on the University's cross country course last Sunday following his team's national indoor championship victory at the NCAAs.

"Coach McDonnell wanted me to get out there and see if I could run quickly and six miles at pace. But after a mile of limping round he called me in and said there was no sign of me running smoothly at all."