Many pundits viewed Alistair Cragg's 3,000m qualifying race on Friday as a struggle. They were ready to discard the very man they deified at last year's European Championship. I saw Cragg clawing his way to an automatic spot after surviving a clipped heel and near fall.

Eliud Kipchoge, the reigning World 5k Champion acknowledged the 3,000m final was going to be this weekend's "race of champions" at the 11th IAAF World Indoor Championships. In addition to Kipchoge, the field included World Steeplechase Said Saaeed Shaheen and Kenenisa Bekele, the 5,000m and 10,000m World Record holder and Olympic and World 10k Gold Medallist.

Perhaps still reeling from his near devastation in the qualifying race, Cragg immediately took the lead, safe from stray limbs and remained there for the first kilometre which he passed in 2.43.2. It must have been daunting to be leading at this point with a virtual who's who of distance running trailing behind.

Kipchoge, from Kenya took the lead after the mile mark and the racing began in earnest as he crossed 2-kilometres in 5.16.0. The older Bekele, Kenenisa was ready to pouch while his brother Tariku was in seventh position.

The trio of World champions quickly gapped the rest of the field. The medallists were decided with only colour of the medal to be decided. Cragg was in seventh place with 800 metres remaining. He passed a runner and with 600m remaining he moved to fifth spot. Cragg continued to accelerate passing Kenyan Shadrack Korir into fourth position.

Up front, Kenenisa Bekele effortlessly left his rivals with a 27-second 200m penultimate lap. The early move took its toll on Kipchoge and the strength of steeplechaser Shaheen showed as he finished in second place. Bekele went on to win in 7.39.32, Shaheen second in 7.41.28 and Kipchoge with the Bronze in 7.42.58.

Cragg, 25, looked like he was standing still compared to the immortal Bekele but still managed a sub 60-second last 400 metres on his way to his fourth place time of 7.46.43. Cragg ran his first kilometre in 2.43.2, his second in 2.33.2 and his final kilometre in 2.30.0.

Ironically, Cragg's time was only .11 off the time he ran to win last year's 3,000m European Championship. Despite his roller coaster season, Cragg was the first European finisher and will enter this summer's European Championships in Goteborg a prohibitive favourite in the 5,000-metre event. Cragg may find solace in quoting Mark Twain who upon reading his own obituary in the newspaper replied, "Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated."

Complete Results for the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships