Cragg gets call-up to Ireland team

ATHLETICS/Cross Country: Athletics Ireland have called Alistair Cragg into the Irish team for the European Cross Country Championships to be held in Medulin, Croatia on December 8th. It will be the first time the South African-born athlete, whose both sets of grandparents are Irish, will run in the green vest since declaring his new allegiance earlier this year.

Cragg finished second in Monday's deeply competitive American NCAA Cross Country Championships, where he represented the University of Arkansas. Last spring the 22-year-old ran 13 minutes 22.07 seconds for 5,000 metres - the fastest time by an Irishman all year.

"We've talked with Alistair several times over the last few weeks and he's very eager now to run for Ireland," said the AAI's international secretary Liam Hennessy.

US-based athlete Keith Kelly, who had been pre-selected, has had to withdraw with a minor leg strain and the chances of an Irish team medal in the men's team race are sure to suffer as result. Kelly was a winner of the NCAA title two years ago, and recently enjoyed his best period of training with Mark Carroll at his Providence, Rhode Island base.

There could, however, still be a strong challenge for a team medal similar to the bronze won in Sweden two years ago. Seamus Power won a record eighth successive inter-county title in Cork on Sunday, and he is joined on the team by the next three finishers in that race - Cork's Fiachra and Cathal Lombard, and Dublin's Mark Kenneally. Completing the six-man team is Gareth Turnbull, who did not run in Cork but was selected partly because of his consistency in the past, including his role in the bronze medal performance two years ago.

The women's team will be led by 40-year-old Ann Keenan-Buckley, who showed no signs of slowing when winning another inter-county title on Sunday. Joining her will the next four finishers - Maria McCambridge, Sinead Delahunty, Annette Kealy and Valerie Vaughan. While US-based Breda Dennehy-Willis also gets a call-up, Catherina McKiernan has declined an offer to be considered for selection. She instead will train towards the world cross country next March.

Irish Teams, European Cross Country Championships (Croatia, December 8th): Senior men - S Power (Kilmurry-Ibickane), F Lombard (Leevale), C Lombard (Leevale), M Kenneally (Raheny), G Turnbull (St Malachy's), A Cragg (Unattached); Reserve: D Donnolly (Annadale).

Senior women - A Keenan-Buckely (Nth Laois), M McCambridge (Dundrum South-Dublin), S Delahunty (Kilkenny City Harriers), A Kealy (Raheny), B Dennehy-Willis (Bandon), V Vaughan (Blarney/Inniscara); Reserve: P Curley (Tullamore).

Junior men - C Rooney (Clonliffe).

Junior women - F Britton (Sli Chulainn).