The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Muir can sweep up records, says great Hutchings
Track legend Tim Hutchings claims Milnathort athlete Laura Muir could be set to sweep up middledistance records after emerging from lockdown with a bang.
After capturing the UK 1,000m best in Monaco last week, the 27-year-old has landed in Stockholm for a crack at lowering her 1,500m mark this weekend.
And the way in which Dundee Hawkhill Harrier Muir has proved her hunger to improve should have everyone on notice, Hutchings claims.
“I believe that we have yet to see the best of Laura, because for several years now she’s been getting stronger and sharpening an already aggressive racing style.
“It’s a style I like very much – who doesn’t like someone who is brave and prepared to take a race on, to throw the gauntlet down to the opposition?
“Laura is getting stronger all the time, she’s been getting faster all the time – as her recent breaking of the 1,000m British record held by the legendary Kelly Holmes showed clearly – and when that speed and strength come together?
“I think the oneyear delay to Tokyo 2020 might just play in Laura’s favour.”
Training partner Jemma Reekie, fresh from victory in
Bydgoszcz in midweek, has also underlined her immense potential to join her training partner on the podium at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
But despite her own streak of indoor records at the outset of the year, the 22-year-old still has room for improvement, Hutchings claims.
“While Jemma can be justifiably more ambitious than Laura at the same age, she still has to get things right and one can be sure that Andy’s frankness and dry sense of humour, as well as trying to live with Laura’s strength, will keep her humble,” said the world and European medallist.
“Jemma has enjoyed so much success in the age groups, with those European U20 and U23 medals. But now she’s in the big pond and it will be fascinating to see how she handles herself.”
Meanwhile UK Athletics has handed former Olympic cyclist Sara Symington the task of overhauling the sport after she was named as its new performance director.
The former England Netball and British Archery supremo will also have a role in appointing a new Olympic head coach next week with Scottish Athletics supremo Steve Maguire and Canada-based Peter Eriksson understood to be on the shortlist.