Aug 21, 2009 [Noel Guiden] Alistair Cragg had a disappointing run in heat 2 of last night`s 5,000m in Berlin failing to make the final. Cragg post race was quoted in this morning`s newspapers as saying : “I just fell asleep, for like a lap and didn`t go with the move.”
Cragg`s season has been very up and down.In mid May he ran his season`s best of 13.16.83, since then he came down in distance running 7.37 for 3,000, 3.38.84 for 1500 in Oslo, he has also record a 1500 dnf and a 14 minute plus 5,000 outing. On the positive side, however, he had been running injury free for the first time in a couple of seasons.
Early in the race things looked promising as Cragg ran with the leaders, however once the pace picked up after eight laps he slipped down the field and finished a very disappointing 13th in 13.46.34. Sadly had Cragg ran to his early season form not only would he have qualified he could well have won the race. So our former Europen Indoor 3,000m Champion and twice Olympic 5,000m finalist goes out of a major championship in most disappointing circumstances.
Hopefully Alistair can pick himself up for what remains of the 2009 track season and make himself available for consideration for the European Cross Country in Santry this December.