Hawks pair qualify for the 5,000m world final

HAWKHILL Harriers Laura Muir and Eilish McColgan qualified for Sunday’s World Championships 5,000 metres final.

Sir Mo Farah’s 10,000m gold last Friday was hosts Great Britain’s only medal in the first six days of competition and his quest for a golden double continues in Saturday’s 5,000m final.

The heats of the corresponding women’s event opened proceedings on yesterday’s seventh day of competition at the London Stadium.

British record holder Muir, who finished fourth in the 1,500m on Monday, was in the first heat and had to come in the top five to be sure to advance.

Hawkhill Harrier Muir was overtaken by two athletes in the final 100m as she clocked 14 minutes 59.34 seconds to place seventh in her heat, which was won by Hellen Obiri of Kenya in 14mins 56.70secs.

Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana, the world and Olympic 10,000m champion, was second in 14:57.06.

Muir had to wait until the second heat concluded to learn if she would progress. She did so and was joined in the final by another Harrier.

Dundee’s McColgan (right) finished fourth behind Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia in the second heat, which was won in 14:59.34. McColgan clocked a personal best of 15:00.38 and Brit Steph Twell finished 15th in 15:41.29.

Muir said: “That was long. I ran as hard as I could. That was fast. I’ve been looking at the times of heats from previous championships and that’s the fastest ever, well, that I know of anyway.

“I felt good out there apart from that last lap.

“I know I’m better than I ran and, hopefully, I can show it in the final.”

Perth’s Eilidh Doyle, meanwhile, finished 8th in the 400m hurdles final.

TURKEY’S Ramil Guliyev insisted he was lucky to sneak under the radar after he shocked Wayde van Niekerk to clinch the world 200 metres title.

South Africa’s Van Niekerk claimed silver to miss the chance to become the first man since Michael Johnson in 1995 to win the 200m and 400m double at the championships.

Guliyev said: “This is not a shock but this does not feel real. I am so proud. This title means a lot.

“I have shown my best throughout this competition. I delivered my best race at the right time. This is the best moment of my career.”

Van Niekerk ran 20.11secs but felt his achievement had been overshadowed by the focus on Makwala.

“I’ve proven over and over again I deserve what I’ve achieved,” Van Niekerk said. “I felt I didn’t get the respect I deserved after the 400m. I believe this is only the beginning. I’m going to put in so much more and show my dominance.”

Earlier, two-time Olympic champion and defending champion Christian Taylor won the triple jump, ahead of United States team-mate Will Claye, with a leap of 17.68m as Portugal’s Nelson Evora took bronze.

On a successful night for the US, Kori Carter claimed the 400m hurdles title.

Meanwhile, defending champion Almaz Ayana and Hellen Obiri, who took Olympic silver in Rio, cruised into the 5,000m final.