Muir falls short of Budd record and is outpaced by Obiri
Scot sets personal best in attempt on mile mark Encouraged by form after her injury lay-off
Laura Muir experienced a rare hiccup in her quest to sweep up every British middle-distance record as she was unexpectedly outsprinted at the death in London yesterday when targeting a moraleboosting victory ahead of next month’s World Championships.
Muir has set five British and two European records over the past 12 months, but missed out in her effort to better Zola Budd’s national one-mile record set in 1985.
While there was joy in achieving a personal-best 4min 18.03secs – half a second slower than Budd’s mark – after a stress fracture in her foot had threatened to derail her season, Muir had to settle for second place behind fast-finishing Olympic 5,000m silver medallist Hellen Obiri.
Asked if she was disappointed, Muir replied: “Yes and no. I’m disappointed not to get the record, but I’m still really happy with that time, it’s still a PB for me.
“I was tired in the last 100m, but considering I was putting two races together in the last three or four days, I’m very happy. Hellen is
‘I just have to be positive. I know I can come back faster and fitter’
probably the person to beat in the 5,000m, so I know she’s in great form right now and over the shorter distances, too.”
After tracking pacemaker Jenny Meadows through the halfway point, Muir set out in pursuit of the British record with Obiri hot on her heels. The Scot held her lead until entering the home straight, but had no response to Obiri’s burst and grimaced as she faded into second. Obiri’s time of 4min 16.56sec put her fifth on the all-time list.
Having surprised herself by returning from injury to set an 800m personal best in Lausanne on Thursday, Muir insisted yesterday’s run was another encouraging sign on the road to full fitness. “Injury is always going to be a little bit in the back of your mind but certainly training’s been going really well,” she said.
“I’ve responded really well to all the treatment and rehab we’ve done with it so I just have to be positive and look forward.
“In Lausanne that was the first time I’d worn my running spikes in five or six weeks.
“Today I’m really pleased with because there’s no response. The World Championships are still a month down the road and I am encouraged after today – I know I can come back fitter and faster.”
Muir will race once more over 3,000m at the Monaco Diamond League in a fortnight before trying a 1,500m/5,000m double at the World Championships.