AthleticsAthletics Ireland have been forced to replace Alistair Cragg for Sunday's European cross country championships in Edinburgh. The superbly talented 23-year-old, in his final year at the University of Arkansas, has failed to confirm his availability for the event, and his place on the men's team has gone to Tristan Druet.
Cragg was last week named on the original six-man team, despite some doubts about his fitness. He had undergone minor surgery in September and was clearly some way off his best when finishing eighth in last month's American collegiate cross country championships. Although all the travel plans were in place up until yesterday, his failure to confirm his participation meant Irish team manager Patsy McGonagle had no option but to call up Druet, who had been named as first reserve.
Though born in South Africa, Cragg declared for Ireland two years ago and made his international debut in last year's European cross country in Croatia, where he finished first of the Irish, in a highly respectable eighth place. He was expected to produce another top-10 finish on Sunday, and his withdrawal is yet another setback to the hopes of the Irish men finishing among the leading teams.
Cork's Cathal Lombard and US-based Keith Kelly, two more potential top-10 finishers, had already withdrawn through illness and injury respectively. It means the men's team, led by Séamus Power, are now short three of their first-choice athletes.
Druet was named as first reserve after finishing sixth in the National Intercounties cross country last Sunday week, over a minute behind Power. Though his mother hails from Sligo, he is now based in France, the birthplace of his father. His most notable international experience was at last summer's European under-23 championships, and he joins two other under-23 athletes on the Irish team - Robert Connolly and Mark Kenneally.
The Irish teams travel to Edinburgh on Friday, and will be joined on Saturday by Sonia O'Sullivan, who will travel up from London.
RTÉ confirmed yesterday that the women's 6.5km race will be broadcast live on the Sunday from 1.05 p.m., with O'Sullivan expected to battle it out with Britain's Paula Radcliffe for the individual title.
