After the race, an elated Alistair Cragg told Tom O'Riordan of the Irish Independent, "I was excited to be still in with a chance of a medal going into the last lap but the other guys were that bit stronger than me. This was my first time in a European type cross-country but I know this experience will stand to me and I would love to come back and win it for Ireland."

The Irish Senior Women's team also placed 6th with 133 points. The ageless Anne Keenan Buckley led the Irish team placing 18th covering the 6,170m course in 20.53. Breeda Dennehy Willis was 29th (21.14), Valerie Vaughn placed 39th (21.28) with Sinead Delahunty Evans rounding out the scorers placing 47th in 21.42. Maria McCambridge was 57th (22.08) and Annette Kealy placed 58th in 22.09.

Fionnuala Britton (Slí Chúlainn AC) placed 49th in the Women's Junior Race covering the 3,730-metre course in 13.20 passing eight runners on the third of three laps. Charlotte Dale (Great Britain) won the race in 12.26. The Wicklow runner was the lone Irish entrant in the race.

Colm Rooney (Cloniffe Harriers) placed 17th running 19.10 on the 6,170m course. Rooney ran the first three laps in 30th place before moving up 23rd on the penultimate lap and finishing 17th. Evgeny Rybakov of Russia won the race in 18.16. Like Britton, Rooney was only Irish junior competing.

Click here for Irish Runner.com interview with Alistair Cragg.

Click below for complete results from the 2002 European Cross Country Championships website