By Frank Greally Beijing Dispatches 5,000m Alistair Cragg was tossed a lifeline here in Beijing tonight-qualifying as a fastest loser for the men’s 5,000 meters Olympic Final.
It must be like the answer to a prayer for Cragg who following his 6th place finish in the first qualifying heat, was sure that his Olympic experience was over.
Arriving in the Mixed Zone after his event, Cragg was at first too upset to speak with Greg Allen from RTE Radio 1 Sport. He seemed overwhelmed, upset and at odds with himself, but after a few minutes he managed to recover his composure and talk to Greg and other Irish Media.
Cragg was happy with the way he had run for most of his race, but was self critical about how he finished. “I should have gone for it from 300 meters out,” he said. “I feel that I ran a perfect race until then.”
There was an edge to his voice as Cragg then spoke about his frustration with the attitude he believes the Irish public and the media may have to some of the Irish performances here in Beijing.
“I feel that people are quick to point out my faults, rather than offer to help out,” he said. “I feel that we may be stuck in the 1970s- things have changed and there is no future in comparing what we are doing now to how athletes like John Treacy and others performed back then. We need to be supported and appreciated for what we are trying to achieve right now.”
Cragg was quick to praise the Athletics Ireland High Performance team preparation for Beijing. “Athletics Ireland is trying hard and the training camp in Japan was really excellent,” he said.
Cragg’s finishing time of 13:38.57 was enough to earn him his place in the final. This will have been a big, big bonus for the Clonliffe runner, who, before he knew of his good fortune, described tonight as, : “the worst night of my life.” Cragg should have realised that he was at the Olympics where some dreams can come true.
Beijing Dispatches 800m
By Frank Greally
Thomas Chamney has found a reason to continue with his full time athletics career and he now intends to keep faith in his athletic ability for the next four years.
“I found my experience here in Beijing to be far more positive than negative,” Chamney said. “I did run out of steam in the final eighty meters of my qualifying heat, but the whole experience here has given me a great reason to look towards London in four years time- even thought I was at one stage this Summer considering my future in the sport.”
Chamney called for a ‘change of mindset’ by Irish athletes- more cohesion and working together.
“I think that Athletics Ireland are doing a good job and really trying to make things better for all of us,”Chamney said. “I think that the athletes need to work more together and I would be open to any suggestions in this regard.”
“I may have made a mistake to base myself in Spain this Summer and I would much prefer to be able to train at home and to have someone to train with.”
Chamney exuded positivity in the mixed zone and this Olympic experience should stand him in good stead over the next four years.