Cragg: No Mo favours
Alistair Cragg is confident he can retain his European Indoor 3000 metres title in Birmingham tomorrow after a dramatic qualifying race.
The Republic of Ireland athlete was close by when Britain’s Mo Farah – one of his main rivals – was sent clattering to the floor after being accidentally tripped halfway through their heat.
The 26-year-old US-based star revealed that he had tried to ensure the race did not run quicker to allow Farah time to recover.
Cragg, who will be defending the gold medal he won two years ago in Madrid, said: “I’m ready – I felt very good today.
“I feel sorry for Mo – you don’t want that to happen to anyone.
“I could have injected some pace at that point but I didn’t want to do that. Then one of the Spanish guys injected the pace anyway.”
Cragg’s initial act of charity did allow Farah to regain contact with the field and, although the Briton was exhausted by the effort, he made the final as a fastest loser.
There the Somalian-born star can expect no favours from either Cragg or Jesus Espana the Spaniard who beat him for the European 5000m crown last summer.
Cragg insisted: “The final will be a level playing field. We will all be fresh and it’s anyone’s game.”
Mark Carroll, championship winner seven years ago, failed to make the cut, placing 10th in his heat with a time of 8mins 12.60secs.
David Gillick, the only other Irish medallist two years ago when he won gold in the 400 metres, is adamant he can retain his title.
Gillick came through strongly in his semi-final, to edge ahead of British hope Robert Tobin whom he beat by just 0.03sec in 46.16sec.
He said: “That was OK. Robert and I go back a long way but it was still important to win the semi final for the lane draw.
“Maybe I should have gone a little quicker, but overall I am very happy. I’m ready and looking forward to the final.”
Thomas Chamney and David McCarthy moved into tomorrow’s 800m semi-finals by finishing second and third in their qualifiers.
In a slow tactical race, Chamney clocked a time of 1min 55.58sec while McCarthy who has successfully moved up from the 400, recorded 1min 49.60sec.
Deidre Ryan failed to progress in the high jump, finishing ninth in her group with a leap of 1.84 metres.
