Sport

Cragg out to confound doubters in Japan

ATHLETICS: ALISTAIR CRAGG confounded many doubters when he ran a world class 5,000 metres in Brussels last summer, just missing…

Sat Dec 03 2011 - 00:00

ATHLETICS:ALISTAIR CRAGG confounded many doubters when he ran a world class 5,000 metres in Brussels last summer, just missing Mark Carroll's 13-year-old Irish record with a highly impressive 13 minutes, 3.53 seconds.

Tomorrow he could confound other critics when he runs in the Fukuoka marathon in Japan, the long established event first run in 1947 and which has produced many fast times.

Cragg’s time in the 5,000m has already qualified him to compete in his third Olympics in London but the marathon holds a special attraction for the 31-year-old, and even more so since he was forced to drop at halfway in the Boston classic last April.

The prospect of being part of the London Olympic marathon field excites Cragg and explains why he has been churning out the miles around the slopes of the Californian hills for several weeks, building his strength and ironing out the problems he encountered in Boston.

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He put that painful experience behind him and went on to have a good track season but reckons now is the time to show his resolve in the marathon event.

Yesterday he was very upbeat about Fukuoka as he relaxed in the city. “My build-up has gone perfectly, not too hard with no hiccups” he said.

“I’ve done the work and the preparations were a lot easier and more enjoyable than for Boston.

“Some of the work has been fast but I still I feel very fresh.

“I have goals for this race and I would love to run an Irish record (which stands at two hours nine minutes 15 seconds set by John Treacy in ’88) and I would be lying if I did not think I can do it but primarily I want to be competitive and feel I can have a podium finish and make the top three.

“Running that 13:03 did me the world of good and it rekindled my fire and drive to get the best out of myself and this will tell me what will be my best event for London. I’ve had some good races this year and a fast time here would be the icing on the cake.”

Already one Irishman, Mark Kenneally, has achieved the marathon standard (2:15.00) for London with 2:13.55 and clearly Cragg is determined to join him in the line-up. It would also be a big boost for Ireland’s Olympic preparations.