Muir ‘happy’ with second at Eugene.

Opening her summer season Laura Muir produced an impressive return to racing at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon.

The newly-qualified vet was content to sit in the middle of the pack over the opening two laps of the 1500m with home favourite Jenny Simpson making all the running.

Taking the bell for the final lap in sixth the Milnathort athlete closed on leader Simpson in the final 100m. As Muir moved out to overhaul the tiring American it was another US athlete Shelby Houlihan, however, who powered through to snatch a surprise victory on the finish line in three minutes 59.06 seconds, a stride ahead of the Dundee Hawkhill athlete’s 3:59.30.

Having sat out the Commonwealth Games to concentrate on her studies, the 25-year-old hardly looked like she had been away from the track.

“I’m really happy with my first race of the season, she said. “3.59 over 1500m for second is my fastest -ever season opener. After a tiring few weeks with exams, I’m excited for the rest of the season.”

Sprinter Reece Prescod followed up his recent win in the Shanghai Diamond League by coming third in the 100m behind Ronnie Baker (USA), who came through to beat Christian Coleman (USA) in 9.78.

Prescod’s time of 9.88 was also quick, only one hundredth shy of Linford Christie’s 9.87 UK record.

It was an Ivorian one-two in the women’s 100m race, Marie-Josee Ta Lou winning in 10.88 from Murielle Ahoure’s 10.90 and Olympic champion Elaine Thompson (Jamaica) third in 10.98. UK record holder Dina Asher-Smith finished sixth in 11.06 which is her fastest over the distance since 2015.

800m winner Emmanuel Korir (Kenya) nearly hit the deck rounding the final bend but soon regained his balance, reeling in Nijel Amos (Botswana) down the home straight to take victory in 1:45.16.

Caster Semenya (South Africa) proved to be untouchable over 800m once again in winning ahead of American Ajee Wilson.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo impressed over 400m. The Bahamian who stumbled and lost the world title to Phyllis Francis in London last year made no mistake, clocking a worldleading 49.52 to leave the American trailing in her wake.