Muir breaks British mile record – and leads British challenge at Europeans

Laura Muir smashed the British mile record as she stormed to victory at the Muller Indoor Grand Prix on Saturday, writes Graham Bennison.

The Milnathort athlete, a triple European champion, broke Kirsty Wade’s 31-year-old indoor record by five seconds in four minutes 18.75 seconds in Birmingham on Saturday.

She is preparing to defend her 1,500m and 3,000m titles at the European Indoor Championships on her home track in Glasgow next month.

Dundee Hawkhill Harrier Muir, already guaranteed a place on the British squad, now holds six UK records and clocked the third fastest indoor mile of all time.

“It’s pretty special, having come so close to the mile one outdoors it’s nice to nail it indoors,” said the 25-year-old.

“It’s always special to get one, especially one which has stood such a long time and from an iconic runner as Kirsty.

“To run one of the fastest runs ever, a British record and a win in your final race before the championships is perfect. I’m really happy and confident.

“I’m at the stage where I’m just so confident and relaxed in my ability and with that I run better. There’s no questions over my ability. It’s about executing it on the day and I’m doing better and better at that.”

Wade’s mark of four minutes 23.88 seconds had stood since 1988.

Muir believes she can give the double-medal bid in Glasgow “a good shot”.

“To do the doubledouble in Glasgow, it’s too good an opportunity to miss out on, particularly if you’re running well,” she said.

Kilbarchan U20 junior Kerry MacAngus finished in fifth with a personal best of 4:39.68.

Kinross athlete Eilidh Doyle bounced back from a disappointing 400m run at the UK Championships/ Trial to finish second in a season’s best 52.43 seconds, a couple of strides behind Stephenie Ann McPherson’s (Jamaica) 52.24.

Pitreavie AC’s Doyle said: “That was much better – I managed to get the break behind Stephenie so just used her.”

Eilish McColgan (Dundee Hawkhill) missed last week’s UK Championships/Trial after she was sidelined by illness but did enough to secure selection for Glasgow by taking seventh in the 3,000m in a time of 8 minutes 57.19 seconds.

Samuel Alamez won the race in 8:54.60 as Ethiopians filled the top four positions.

McColgan said: “I’m a long way off my best just now. I’m a couple of weeks behind playing catch up.”

Guy Learmonth went crashing to the track floor just 50m into the 800m men’s race but selection for the Lasswade athlete was already assured having posted the qualifying time in finished second at the UK Championships/Trial.

But there was disappointment for Edinburgh AC’s Lynsey Sharp after she missed out on a place at the Europeans after finishing sixth in the 800m, with the race won by Shelayana Oskan Clarke.

Laura Muir with her record time on display.