Cragg and Carroll falter before Athens

The harsh realities of world-class track running came home to roost for Ireland's Olympic 5000m hopefuls Alistair Cragg and Mark Carroll, with both faltering in the glare of the Golden League Gala meeting in Rome last night.

Cragg, recently turned 24, clocked a disappointing 13:37.75, in last place behind race winner and current world champion Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya (12:46.53), in a new meet record time.

Cork man Carroll, who also has the A-standard for the Athens marathon, failed to finish in the high-class field. This will come as a setback to both, but Johannesburg-born Cragg has 3000m and 5000m races in Spain and London to run, before running at the Irish nationals on July 24-25.

Having signed with Boston-based Global Athletics and Marketing Inc., Cragg is due to complete his Olympic training then with three weeks in his home town of Fayetteville, Arkansas, under the tutelage of Mayo man John McDonnell, his university coach of the past four years.

Filed by Barry J Whyte