Irish off the pace in Crystal Palace

Athletics:It proved a slightly worrying night for the Irish athletes in action at the London Grand Prix in Crystal Palace, one of the last stop-offs before the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, now just three weeks away.

Alistair Cragg was eyeing the European two-mile record of 8:13.51, set by Britain's Steve Ovett in 1978, on the same London track, but instead he found the pace demanded by the Australian Craig Mottram far too hot to handle, and Cragg could manage only seventh place, running 8:31.01 - well outside his best of 8:23.78.

The race was billed as a world record attempt on the 7:58.61, run by the great Daniel Komen of Kenya 10 years ago. Running the last three laps alone, Mottram found that beyond his reach, but he was still a convincing winner in 8:11.16. The Australian is now favourite to strike gold over 5,000 metres in Osaka.

Paul Hession went to London thinking about a further improvement on his Irish 200-metre record of 20.30 seconds, but couldn't come close and ended up fifth in 20.61, running into a slight headwind. Victory went to the Jamaican Usain Bolt in an impressive 20.06.

Sligo's Mary Cullen was fine-tuning over 3,000 metres ahead of Osaka, where she runs the 5,000 metres, and while she hung with the leaders for a long while, she faded to eighth over the last lap, clocking 8:53.75 - with victory going to the American Lauren Fleshman in a personal best of 8:43.92.

Several of the main gold medal contenders for Osaka were in action, and looked the part - with the American Jeremy Wariner taking the 400 metres in an almost casual-looking 44.05, the second fastest in the world this year. Compatriot Tyson Gay took the 100 metres in 10.02, and former Kenyan Bernard Lagat - now running for America - produced a stunning kick to take the 1,500 metres in 3:35.72.

The only stadium record on the night went to another American, Resse Hoffa, who threw the 11th furthest shot of all-time with his mighty 22.43-metre effort.