Cragg run has heads turning

ATHLETICS: As expected, the new breed of Irish speed merchants yesterday provided an explosive climax to the National Indoor Championships, staged at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.

But the most impressive performance of the weekend occurred several thousands miles away in Arkansas, where Alistair Cragg broke the Irish indoor 3,000 metres record with the sort of time that has turned heads around the world.

The 22-year-old Cragg, in his final year at the University of Arkansas, clocked seven minutes, 38.59 seconds when taking second place at the Tyson Invitational - a time which saw him regain his American collegiate record and also become the fourth-fastest man over the distance in the world this year.

But most telling of all was that it improved the 7:41.14 Irish record Frank O'Mara had set when winning the World Indoor title in Seville in 1991.

Cragg, who gave way to Kenya's Boaz Cheboiywo in the final stretch (7:38.30), is, however, unlikely to contest next month's World Indoors in Budapest as they clash with the American NCAA championships, where for one final year he is committed to run. Too bad, because even the defending champion, Haile Gebrselassie, would be looking over his shoulder.

Several Irish athletes who have made Budapest their short-term goal used the fine track at the Odyssey Arena to good effect. The highlight was Paul Brizzel's storming run over 60 metres, which saw him upset the British duo of Dwain Grant and Darren Campbell in a championship best performance of 6.75 seconds.

The selection dilemma for the 400 metres has taken care of itself as Paul McKee didn't even show for his favoured event, and instead ran the 60 metres - where he failed to progress to the final.

David McCarthy took a rough ride to victory in his absence to clock 47.68, and Rob Daly, who was the next-best Irish finisher, in 48.03, is set to join him in Budapest. For McKee, who took World Indoor silver last year in Birmingham, only a relay place can provide consolation.

Another destined for Budapest is the fast-improving Joanne Cuddihy of Kilkenny, who took the 400 metres in another championship best performance, 53.49.

Ciara Sheehy had a slightly easier victory in the 200 metres, clocking 24.11. Local favourite Anna Boyle won a tight 60-metre final in 7.46 seconds, and Adrian O'Dwyer continued his great progression in the high jump by clearing 2.24 metres.

Gillian O'Sullivan's world-record bid in the 3,000 metres walk did, however, fall short, and her time of 11 minutes 59.78 seconds was well outside her own mark of 11:35.34. But one record did fall when the highly promising Colin Costello ran 3:49.20 when taking second in the 1,500 metres - good enough for a new Irish junior mark.

Back at Arkansas, Karen Shinkins ran a season's best of 52.40 over 400 metres, as did Peter Coghlan with his 7.86 over the 60 metres hurdles, and both are likely to be part of the Irish team to be announced tomorrow by Athletics Ireland.