Cragg fears after Monaco withdrawal

THERE was further concern for Irish team manager, Patsy McGonagle, on the eve of the Olympic team’s departure for the pre-Olympic training camp in Matsue when middle distance runner, Alistair Cragg, pulled out of the 3,000m race at the Super Grand Prix in Monte Carlo last night.

Cragg, who has opted to double up at 1,500m and 5,000m in Beijing, having also qualified at 10,000m, was to put the perfect finishing touch to his preparations at the Monaco meeting, after two sparkling 7:38 runs in Paris and London.

But he never got into last night’s race — lying deep in the field as Benson Esho of Kenya took them through the opening kilometre in 2:32.16. He was missing from a group of 15 that had become established before the second of the pacemakers, Jonathan Komen, took over.