Muir backed to head world medal hopes
Black says calf injury will not deter 1500m runner Langford in GB squad despite Mccarthy clash
The chief of British Athletics is hopeful Laura Muir can win a medal at the World Championships in Doha, despite her 1500 metres heat coming more than 10 weeks after she was last able to compete.
Muir, who is recovering from a calf injury, was named alongside fellow medal hopefuls Dina Ashersmith and Katarina Johnsonthompson in Britain’s World Championships squad yesterday. There was also an 800m place for Kyle Langford, despite two controversial incidents related to his conduct this summer.
Muir last raced at the London Anniversary Games on July 20, where she injured a calf when triumphing over 1500m. She has only returned to track training in spikes over the past few days.
The build-up is far from ideal for an athlete who continues to improve after finishing fifth and fourth over 1500m at the last two World Championships, but Neil Black, the British Athletics performance director, says she can still make the podium in the final on Oct 5. “She’s progressing her training well. She’s at the stage of actually starting to run sessions,” Black said. “The beauty of Laura and Andy [Young, her coach] is they are brilliant at planning. They know exactly what Laura needs to do to get in shape to run medal-winning performances. “They will take that experience and apply it to the time they have. She’s going to be there and going to be competitive.”
Black did concede the task of running three rounds in four days in Doha may test Muir’s fitness. “That’s the challenge: how do you make sure she’s at her absolute best in the final, when you’re coming off different preparation? But if anyone can do it, it’s Laura and Andy.”
‘They will take their experience and apply it to the time they have. She will be competitive’
Langford, the Commonwealth silver medallist, has been selected two months after shoving an elderly race official at a meet in Watford following a heated row during his warm-up. Langford was fined £1,000 and given a written warning – but he is now facing a second complaint, allegedly related to a clash with fellow 800m runner James Mccarthy during the British Championships.
Both Langford and Mccarthy are believed to have made complaints to the governing body.
Black insisted Langford’s conduct was not a factor in his selection. “The discussions in the selection meeting focused purely on performance,” he said. “The selectors decided Kyle’s performances merited selection.”
Asher-smith, the triple European champion, will look to win medals in three events – 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay – while Zharnel Hughes and Adam Gemili will both attempt a 100m and 200m sprint double.
Mo Farah decided not to put himself forward for 10,000m selection, instead focusing on next month’s Chicago Marathon.