Confident Cragg ponders double bid

EUROPEAN gold medallist Alistair Cragg is considering an audacious attempt at the 4km and 12km titles on successive days at the World Cross-Country Championships in Saint-Etienne/Saint-Galmier next weekend.

Cragg, who won the 3,000m at the Euro Indoor Championships in Madrid, had initially only targeted the short course event.

“We have spoken to Alistair and there is a possibility he will double up,” revealed AAI International Secretary, Liam Hennessy, yesterday.

“We will obviously be giving him our total support in the 4k race where he competes as an individual but we have decided not to fill the vacancy in the men’s team for the long course (12k) race, thus leaving him with the option of doubling up.”

Cragg may once more face Kenenisa Bekele, the three time double world cross-country champion he defeated in an indoor 3,000m in Boston.

But Bekele, who has gone through a traumatic time since the sudden death of his girlfriend while they were training early in January, has not indicated if he will defend both titles.

The Irish women’s team for the event has been reduced to five after Mary Margaret Meade failed a fitness test. No replacement has been named.

The senior men’s team for the long course race is: Gary Murray (St. Malachy’s), Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers), Paul McNamara (Athenry), Joe McAllister (St. Malachy’s), Alistair Cragg (Clonliffe Harriers) and inter-counties champion, Vinny Mulvey.

The senior women’s team is: Joelene Byrne (Donore Harriers), Maria McCambridge (DSD), Fionnuala Britton (Sli Cualann), Pauline Curley (Tullamore Harriers) and Niamh O’Sullivan (An Riocht).

The first two in the junior men’s championships, Danny Darcy (SLOT, Carlow) and Paul Pollock (Abbey AC) and the junior women’s championships, Rose Anne Galligan (Newbridge) and Linda Byrne (DSD) will also travel.

Meanwhile, the selection date for the European Youth Olympics (Lignano July 3-7) has been extended to June 4 in order that performances at the Kit Kat Irish schools championships can be taken into consideration.

Five athletes have already qualified. Ciaran Ó Lionaird (Leevale) and David McCarthy (West Waterford) posted their standards earlier in the year while last weekend at the National Junior Championships in Nenagh three others claimed their places.

Laura Cogan (Newbridge AC) set a new national junior shot putt record at 12.41m, Kelly Proper (Ferrybank) won the long jump with 5.86m and Brendan O’Neill (DSD) ran 8:38.9 behind Colin Costello in the 3,000m.

Meanwhile, John McDonnell’s remarkable track and field coaching career at the University of Arkansas reached another milestone at the weekend after his men’s Razorbacks team captured the collegiate national indoor championships.

The NCAA title was the 66-year-old Mayoman’s 40th national championship success, his 18th indoors, confirming his status as the most successful coach in American collegiate sports history.