The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘Composed’ Muir ready for tonight’s final
Milnathort’s Laura Muir is ready to prove herself a big championship performer on the world stage in London tonight.
Muir is seeking to become only the second Scottish athlete to win an individual world title, 26 years after Liz McColgan won 10,000m gold in Tokyo.
She is in tonight’s 1,500m final after a strong semi-final performance that won’t dampen down the growing hype.
Her 4:03.64 was the second-quickest time, behind semi-final winner Faith Kipyegon.
Ex-world 800m champion Caster Semenya also proved herself a threat.
“That could have been a final. I just wanted to get through and get myself a spot,” said the Dundee Hawkhill Harrier. “I was surprised how good I felt. “I felt very composed and very comfortable. That semi-final was pretty scrappy, so it was just about staying out of trouble and doing what was needed.
“I’ve learned a lot from Rio and I’m still learning all the time. I’ll talk with my coach about tactics but I’m under no illusions how difficult it’s going to be. This is probably the strongest women’s 1,500m running has ever been.”
She was quick to label her Olympics a learning experience. Muir arrived in Rio as a serious medal contender, having broken Kelly Holmes’ British 1,500m record in London a few weeks earlier.
But, after taking up the pace and leading after two laps, she saw Kenya’s Kipyegon and six other athletes surge past her on the home straight.
It was a salutary lesson but, at only 23, she could be forgiven for tactical naivety.
Within a few weeks she had improved her British best and ended the season as only the third British woman to win a Diamond League title.
Muir knows there is no margin for error in tonight’s final if she is to deliver on her podium potential.
Fifth at the worlds in Beijing two years ago, she believes her double gold at the European Indoor Championships earlier this year in Belgrade has proved she can do it.
While the 24-year old qualified comfortably through a high-quality semi-final, Ethiopia’s defending champion Genzebe Dibaba finished in sixth and had to squeeze through as a fastest non-automatic qualifier.
Muir will this morning watch her favourite film Seabiscuit in preparation for the final. It is the story of a wonder horse whose feisty temperament was questioned before he proved the power of the underdog to write his name in sporting history.
“I just love the film, it always gets me psyched up,” she said.
“I know there have been some championships where some medals have slipped by, but the European Indoors proved what I can do and really boosted my confidence.
“I know how tough this will be. It’s an incredibly strong field but I’m going out there to run as hard and fast as possible.”