On foot of a high quality National Indoor Championships in Nenagh over the weekend, Athletics Ireland are pleased to announce that Alistair Cragg will lead the Irish team at the forthcoming European Indoor Championships in Madrid on 4th - 6th March 2005.

Cragg, the only European to qualify for last Summers Olympic 5,000m final in Athens, currently leads the World lists with his 7.39.89 winning performance over Kenenisa Bekele in Boston last weekend and will start the race as hot favourite.

The Men's 400m sees the full quota of Irish athletes, lead by the superbly talented David Gillick whose seasons best of 47.28 sees him ranked 8th in Europe for 2005.

Paul Hession and Paul Brizell make a formidable duo in the 200m with every chance that one if not both could make the final.

Leevale pair Ailis McSweeney and Derval O'Rourke are the sole female qualifiers so far while UCD's Deirdre Ryan could make history by becoming the first Irish female field eventer to make a major champ[ionship indoor final ion the High Jump.

Peter Coghlan, Emily Maher, Adrian O'Dwyer, Jer O'Donoghue are all closing in on their respective standards and are expected to be added to the team at a later date, subject to the standards being achieved.

Mark Carroll is as yet undecided as to whether he will compete or not, but the 2000 Champion will be given every opportunity by the Association to make his mind up closer to the event.

Preliminary Selections:
Ailis McSweeney (Leevale) 60m 7.39 Bratislava 30/01/05
Derval O'Rourke (Leevale) 60m Hurdles 8.15 Budapest 28/01/05
Deirdre Ryan (UCD) High Jump 1.90 Glasgow 23/01/05
Paul Hession (Athenry)200m 21.12 Birmingham 30/01/05
Paul Brizell (Ballymena & Antrim) 200m 21.32 Ghent 06/02/05
David Gillick (DSD)400m 47.28 Glasgow 23/01/05
David McCarthy (Le Chrile)400m 47.32 Birmingham 30/01/05
Robert Daly (DSD)400m 47.57 Birmingham 29/01/05
Alistair Cragg (Clonliffe Harriers) 3000m 7:39.89 Boston 29/01/05

2005 Madrid European Indoor Athletics Championships website