NCAA Championships Cragg goes for a double

Athletics The Irish connection with American collegiate athletics might not be as strong as it once was, but the influence will still be notable at this year's NCAA track and field championships, which are taking place in Sacramento on the campus of California State University.

It marks the first time since 1968 that the outdoor NCAA championships have been held in northern California, and in the years since, Irish athletes have consistently been to fore of the distance events - athletes like John Treacy, Eamonn Coghlan, Frank O'Mara, Marcus O'Sullivan, Sonia O'Sullivan, Niall Bruton and Mark Carroll.

This year, Alistair Cragg is set to add his name to that list. Though South African born, Cragg holds Irish citizenship.

Now a junior at Arkansas University, Cragg will attempt a 5,000-10,000 metre double, a task only achieved on a few very rare occasions in the long and hugely competitive history of the NCAA championships.

The 10,000 metres will be run as a straight final tonight, with the 5,000 metres final set for Saturday's concluding session, and following last night's two heats.

There are many reasons why Cragg should succeed in at least half of the double. He pulled off a similar one back in March, winning the NCAA indoor titles over 3,000 and 5,000 metres.

His time over 5,000 metres this season of 13 minutes 25.29 seconds is the fastest in the field, and his finishing kick has rarely been matched on any occasion.

Tonight's 10,000 metres, however, will prove more difficult, and not just because of the high temperatures in Sacramento.

Kenya's Boaz Cheboiywo, defending champion, has run 50 seconds faster than anyone in the field. But if it comes down to a last-lap sprint then Cragg should hold the edge. No one is more confident that Cragg can achieve the double than his coach at Arkansas, John McDonnell.

Born in Crossmolina and now one of the most successful coaches in American college history, McDonnell has already seen some of the finest Irish athletes pass through his hands, including O'Mara and Bruton, and yet he rates Cragg as the best of them.

Only three other Irish athletes will compete this weekend, a number significantly down on the great heights of the last two decades.

Mark Smyth of Sligo, a second-year student at Iona College in New York, also goes over 5,000 metres. Mary Cullen, also hailing from Sligo and attending Providence College, goes in the women's 3,000 metres.

And Roisín McGettigan, a native of Wicklow and also at Providence, will run the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase as the other genuine medal contender.