Clonliffe duo Alistair Cragg and Mark Kenneally are ready for the off as the Olympic Athletics Programme commences tomorrow, Friday. Alistair Cragg will be taking part in his third Olympic Games. He runs in Round 1 of the 5000 metres at 10.45 a.m. on Wednesday next August 8th with the realistic aspiration of making his third Olympic final on August 11th. Cragg has maintained a very low key approach to this Olympic Games and on his day is capable of producing a very fast 5000 metres, witness his run in last September’s Van Damm Meet in Brussels. Mark Kenneally on the other hand makes his Olympic debut and is not in action until Sunday week, August 12th at 11 a.m. in the marathon.
The first Irish competitors in action in the track and field programme are on the blocks tomorrow morning with Joanne Cuddihy in the women’s 400 at 12 noon and then tomorrow evening Morton Miler Ciaran O’Lionaird runs in the 1500 metres Round 1 at 8.50 p.m. with Fionnuala Britton running in the 10,000 final at 9.25 p.m. See www.athleticsireland.ie for timetable of Irish athletes in action in these Olympic Games.
Other athletes whom Clonliffe members will be familiar with are recent Morton Games participants Ryan Gregson (AUS) in the 1500m, Matt Centrowitz (USA) 1500m and Eloise Wellings (AUS) in opposition to Fionnuala Britton in the 10,000 metres all in action tomorrow night.