ACE MUIR IN CLOVER
Brit is ready to churn up rivals
LAURA MUIR launched her bid to be the cream of the crop as she chased a World Championships golden double last night.
The Glasgow University vet student was milking cows in a dairy when the London Stadium staged the Olympic Games five years ago.
Now Muir, who also runs in the 5,000m next week, cruised into tonight’s 1,500m semi-finals in front of 70,000 fans.
Muir, 24, said: “I just wanted to get through it and stay out of harm’s way. It’s job done.
“It’s great to get started, it’s been a long time coming. The support is phenomenal. I am excited to be in the semi-final.
“Women’s 1,500m running is probably the best it has ever been. I am chuffed I got through. I hope the semi-final goes well.”
The super Scot, who has been ripping up British records, looked at ease, finishing fourth in her heat in 4min 08.97secs.
Dutch danger Sifan Hassan, who has clocked the three fastest times this year, won the heat in 4:08.89 as the top four crossed the line virtually abreast.
But all of Muir’s other rivals also made it through the first-round heats, including controversial double Olympic and world 800m champ Caster Semenya.
Shatter
The South African is doubling up at these championships, despite issues over her ‘intersex’, which could see her banned or forced to undergo hormone replacement therapy.
Battling Brit Jessica Judd, 22, was rewarded for a gutsy run from the gun as she bagged the final automatic qualifying spot to shatter her personal best with 4:03.73.
Canvey Island-born Judd, hugged by Semenya at the finish, said: “I can’t believe it. The crowd was amazing and I probably got off too fast.
“I thought I was going to have to run the race of my life to get through. I’m just so happy. My dad has been fantastic and I could hear him cheering me on. To get to do it again is amazing.”
Kenya’s Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon won the final heat in 4:03.09, with Britain’s Laura Weightman also making it through in fourth spot in 4:03.50.
Sarah McDonald’s personal best of 4:05.48 saw her make it a quartet of Brits into the semis as a fastest loser.
Britain picked up THREE medals before the event got under way, with the women’s 4x400m relay quartets finally getting their reward after being cheated by Russian dopers.
Former world and Olympic 400m champ Christine Ohuruogu was involved in all three relays as she picked up bronze from Berlin 2009, Daegu 2011 and silver from Moscow in 2013.
And Jessica Ennis-Hill will collect her upgraded gold from the 2011 heptathlon in a ceremony at the stadium tomorrow.