The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Ex-kinross pupils star at Worlds
Medals for Muir and Doyle
Eilidh Doyle and Laura Muir were the toast of Kinross-shire on a Super Saturday that saw the area’s athletics stars claim World medals within an hour of each other.
Both former Kinross High School pupils were overjoyed at their success in the World Indoors – Doyle’s towards the end of a decorated career and Muir’s not yet at the peak of her’s.
For 24-year-old middle-distance runner Muir, the 1,500 metres silver was her second of the Birmingham Games – adding to her bronze in the 3,000m on Thursday night.
Doyle now has 14 major international medals. Almost all of the previous 13 had come in her favoured 400m hurdles or relay but Saturday’s was in the 400m flat.
She now has at least one at every significant championships in the sport from the Olympics down and will be looking to add to that tally in the Commonwealth Games in a month.
Muir won’t be in the Gold Coast due to commitments with her veterinary studies but the Dundee Hawkhill Harrier has reinforced her world class pedigree in the English midlands.
Muir’s medals followed a double European gold in Belgrade a year ago and she believes she has arrived as an elite level contender. “Yeah, I think so,” she said “At the European Indoors I made quite a big statement but that was on the European stage.
“The world stage is completely different, running against the Africans, but I have shown I can definitely mix it with them and come up with the goods.
“It’s such a good confidence boost. I know I’ve been there or thereabouts, it was about time I got on the podium. It was just a matter of when.”
Muir, who finished in four minutes 06.23 seconds, overtook Sifan Hassan on the final lap after the Dutch runner finished ahead of her in the 3,000m.
Gold medallist was Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba
Muir was forced to get a £1,500 taxi from Scotland to Birmingham on Wednesday after her flights were cancelled due to the snow.
She added: “Yeah, it does feel a long time ago. Walking to the vet school in the snow, driving down the M6, it’s crazy where I’ve come in three days.
“I can’t wait to get back to my friends and family and show them the medals.
“I’m on a flight tomorrow evening, whether that will happen I don’t know. It may well be a taxi again. Hopefully the flight should be all right.”
Muir was thrilled with her achievement, saying: “I’ve finished fourth, sixth and seventh in world finals before so to win two medals is amazing.
“I was so focused on the race and the people in front of me that I wasn’t even focusing on those behind me.
“I knew I had to build it up but react when I had to. I just tried to take my time and not panic.
“I was very close to silver in the 3,000m so I knew I just had to go for it this time.
“I knew if I made the right moves I could get another medal and improve on the bronze.”