Footinjury toKOMuir doublebid
Athletics
LAURA MUIR’S bid for a World Championships double looks to have been scuppered by injury.
The 24-year-old will miss next weekend’s trials in Birmingham with a foot problem she suffered during a Stateside trip last month.
Muir is now expected to drop her bid to chase 5000 metres glory in London in August and throw everything into the 1500m.
UK Athletics boss Neil Black said: “That is the most likely outcome but there hasn’t been that final discussion about it. You never know but I think it is very unlikely.”
The double European indoor gold medallist is now lined up for a comeback that could make or break her plans at the Diamond League clash on July 9.
And Black, who also confirmed sprint ace Dina Asher-Smith has been cleared to return in Birmingham, said: “Laura had to have a period of time where she didn’t run.
“She has now progressed her training up to almost normal level. But she has had a different approach for this time of the season.”
Muir was among the highprofile absentees as a largely second-string Brit pack came fourth at the European Team Championships in Lille.
GB&NI trailed Germany, Poland and France in Lille after picking up no wins yesterday after Eilidh Doyle had helped make it six victories in quick succession on Saturday.
But even though the Scots ace, 30, pulled out a season’s best of 54.60 secs in the 400m hurdles she reckons it’s going to be hard to be a world-beater.
She said: “It’s going to be tough but I’m up for it.”
Elsewhere, European bronze medallist Steph Twell boosted her world hopes by earning the 5000m qualifying mark in Watford.