Athletics:Within 24 hours of finishing fifth in a 5km road race in San Jose, California, Alistair Cragg was today named in the six-man Irish team ahead of next month's European Cross Country Championships in Dublin.
The Clonliffe Harriers runner put in an impressive performance in his first race since the World Championships in Berlin in August by clocking a time of 13 minutes, 45 seconds in the high quality Thanksgiving Day race.
Athletics Ireland held off confirming the Irish team until Cragg was able to prove his race fitness and yesterday's result rubber-stamped his place ahead of next month’s meeting at Santry Park on December 13th.
“Alistair is an excellent athlete who has outstanding ability and his performance yesterday showed that, which is why he will be lining out in Santry,” said Anne Keenan-Buckley, Irish team manager .
“I know that he is very excited about racing at the European Cross Country next month and very hopeful of what he can do there. He is feeling strong and confident and now we hope he will continue to build on that over the next two weeks ahead of the event.”
Cragg joins Andrew Ledwith (Fr. Murphy’s AC), Sean Connolly (Tallaght AC), Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers AC), Martin Fagan (Mullingar Harriers AC) and Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers AC).
His inclusion means Raheny Shamrock’s Mick Clohisey becomes the Irish team’s first reserve alongside David Kelly (North Sligo AC).
There was a boost for Irish medal hopes in the women’s race after defending champion Hilda Kibet withdrew from the event.
Men’s Irish Senior Team:
Andrew Ledwith (Fr. Murphy's AC)
Sean Connolly (Tallaght AC)
Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers AC)
Martin Fagan (Mullingar Harriers AC)
Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers AC)
Alistair Cragg (Clonliffe Harriers AC)
1st Reserve: Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock's AC)
2nd Reserve: David Kelly (North Sligo AC)