Olympics - Athletics: Alistair Cragg finished sixth in Heat 1 of the men's 5000 metres but qualified for Saturday's final as one of the fastest losers at the Bird's Nest Stadium today.
The South African-born Irish runner crossed the line in 13:38.57 seconds, and although unable to secure one of the four automatic qualifying spots, his time was good enough for a place in the final.
American Matthew Tegenkamp won Cragg's heat in 13:37.36. He was followed by Kenya's Eluid Kiphoge in second (13:37.50) with Tariku Bekele from Ethiopia third (13:37.63). Eritrea's Kidane Tadesse took the fourth qualifying spot (13.37.72).
Earlier in the track and field schedule Ireland's Thomas Chamney bowed out of the 800m heats.
The 24-year-old from Clonmel, who scraped into the Games on the B-standard, was fifth in Heat 1 of the competition in a time of 1:47.66.
With only the top two in each heat guaranteed a place in tomorrow's semi-finals, Chamney's time will not be good enough secure him one of the eight fastest losers spots.
Men's 5000m heats overview
1. Matthew Tegenkamp (U.S.) 13 minutes 37.36 seconds Q
2. Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 13:37.50 Q
3. Tariku Bekele (Ethiopia) 13:37.63 Q
4. Kidane Tadesse (Eritrea) 13:37.72 Q
5. Aelemayehu Bezabeh (Spain) 13:37.88 Q
6. Alistair Cragg (Ireland) 13:38.57 Q
7. Bernard Lagat (U.S.) 13:39.70 Q
8. James Kwalia C'Kurui (Qatar) 13:39.96 Q
9. Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) 13:40.13 Q
10. Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa (Kenya) 13:41.30 Q
11. Juan Luis Barrios (Mexico) 13:42.39 Q
12. Anis Selmouni (Morocco) 13:43.70
13. Craig Mottram (Australia) 13:44.39
14. Aadam Khamis (Bahrain) 13:44.76
15. Collis Birmingham (Australia) 13:44.90
16. Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (Kenya) 13:46.41 Q
17. Moses Ndiema Kipsiro (Uganda) 13:46.58 Q
18. Moukheld Al-Outaibi (Saudi Arabia) 13:47.00
19. Abreham Cherkos (Ethiopia) 13:47.60 Q
20. Jesus Espana (Spain) 13:48.88 Q
21. Kensuke Takezawa (Japan) 13:49.42
22. Ali Abdalla (Eritrea) 13:49.68
23. Geofrey Kusuro (Uganda) 13:50.50
24. Mohamed Farah (Britain) 13:50.95
25. Sultan Khamis Zaman (Qatar) 13:53.38
26. Monder Rizki (Belgium) 13:54.41
27. Adrian Blincoe (New Zealand) 13:55.27
28. Alberto Garcia (Spain) 13:58.20
29. Philipp Bandi (Switzerland) 13:59.68
30. Mourad Marofit (Morocco) 14:00.76
Q = Qualified for final