 Alistair Cragg was the clear winner of the 3,000 metres in Madrid |
Ireland claimed two gold medals at the European Indoor Championships with Alistair Cragg winning the 3,000 metres and David Gillick the 400. Cragg's recent impressive form made him favourite and he obliged with a superb display of front-running.
But Gillick's success was a tremendous bonus for the Irish as the home crowd had been expecting a victory from the hot tip David Canal.
Gillick ran 46.30 seconds for Ireland's first sprint win at the championships.
"I saw I had a chance off the top bend and just went for it," said the delighted Gillick after rounding the Spaniard Canal in the final 30 metres.
Cragg, the fastest 3,000 metres man in the world in 2005, destroyed the field when breaking away with over a kilometre of the race remaining for a runaway victory.
The US-based star followed in the footsteps of fellow Irishman Mark Carroll, winner of the title five years ago, clinching the gold medal in a time of 7:46.32.
Former champion John Mayock of Britain held off Spanish number one Reyes Estevez for second place.
MMIX
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