Osaka hopefuls pass the test

ATHLETICS:All the main candidates came through as expected at the national track and field championships in Santry, which doubled as the final trial for the World Athletics championships, set for Osaka next month.

Athletics Ireland will formally announce the team later today, but 15 athletes have probably done what was needed to book tickets to Japan.

The final closing date for qualifying standards is August 8th - though there are few Irish athletes still in contention.

Paul Hession's sprint double, David Campbell's middle-distance double, and David Gillick's 400-metre dominance put them high on the team sheet.

Likewise, Joanne Cuddihy winning the 400 metres and Derval O'Rourke winning the high hurdles rubber-stamped their selection.

One of those 15 not competing yesterday was Alistair Cragg, who was due to chase his first national 5,000 metres title. But on Saturday evening he ran a personal best of 13:07.10 at small meeting in Belgium - the fastest time by a European this year, and 12th fastest in the world.

Although he arrived in Santry ready to run, Cragg was advised against that by the Irish team manager, Patsy McGonagle, as he was, not surprisingly, experiencing some fatigue and a minor calf-muscle strain.

But he's back in the mix for a high finish at the World Championships, his time on Saturday coming closer again to Mark Carroll's nine-year-old Irish record, 13:03.93.

Victory in Belgium went to the Ethiopian Bekena Daba, who ran 13:06.52, pipping Cragg, who had led the last two-and-a-half laps.

Cragg is among the men's A-standard athletes that include Hession and Gillick and also three race walkers - Rob Heffernan (20km), Jamie Costin and Colin Griffin (both 50 km).

Liam Reale was third in the 1,500 metres behind Campbell and Colm Rooney, but he holds the B standard at the distance and should still make it to Osaka.

Campbell needed to beat Thomas Chamney over 800 metres to ensure his place, which he did in style - leading from gun to tape to clock 1:49.45.

Women with A standards include Cuddihy at 400 metres, O'Rourke at hurdles and the 3,000-metre steeplechasers Róisín McGettigan and Fionnuala Britton.

Eileen O'Keeffe added her name with a record-breaking hammer win, and Mary Cullen, who has the B standard over 5,000 metres, was an impressive winner over 1,500 metres and is also likely to be selected.

PROBABLE IRELAND TEAM, WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS: Men: Paul Hession (100 and 200 metres); David Gillick (400 metres); Dave Campbell (800 metres); Liam Reale (1,500 metres); Alistair Cragg (5,000 metres); Robert Heffernan (20km walk); Colin Griffin, Jamie Costin (both 50km walk); Women: Joanne Cuddihy (400 metres); Mary Cullen (5,000 metres); Derval O'Rourke (100 metres hurdles); Fionnuala Britton, Róisín McGettigan (both 3,000-metre steeplechase); Olive Loughnane (20km walk); Eileen O'Keeffe (hammer).