Another record run for Laura Muir
New GB track star sets another record
LAURA MUIR has worn her fluorescent yellow and pink running spikes six times. She might have been tempted to ditch them after the first wear when finishing seventh at the Rio Olympics, despite being tipped for a medal.
But 10 days later she ran the fastest 1500m of 2016, then came her first Diamond League title. This year she has set a British record every time she has raced. In Birmingham yesterday, wearing those trusty shoes, she eclipsed the 1,000m national record set by Dame Kelly Holmes in 2004.
The 23-year-old was roared to victory in 2:31.93, grimacing as she crossed the line less than a second outside Maria Mutola’s world record. Minutes later Mo Farah staved off a unexpectedly stern challenge from Albert Rop of Bahrain to post a British indoor 5,000m record of 13:09.16, in his final race indoors.
Farah’s imminent switch from the track to the roads amid the inevitable waning of his powers, coupled with Jessica Ennis-Hill’s retirement, leaves a headline spot to be filled and Muir is the obvious candidate. Quietly confident, the Scot is ready to be the new darling of British athletics.
‘It’s great,’ she said, ‘It’s lovely to know that everybody is cheering you on. I don’t see it as pressure, I see it as support. Even this week, running around Glasgow, people would be saying hi, and that’s nice.’
To build a clearer picture of how well Muir is running, earlier in the afternoon Hellen Obiri of Kenya won the 3,000m in 8:29.41. That is a full three seconds slower than the European indoor record Muir set in Karlsruhe, Germany this month. Not satisfied with records, she is intent on a first senior international title at next month’s European indoor championships in Belgrade, where she will double up over 1,500m and 3,000m.
‘Medals are what any athlete wants to have at the end of their career,’ said Muir, who is midway through a veterinary medicine degree at the University of Glasgow, ‘I’d love to get a couple in Belgrade, preferably as close to gold as possible, and the same at the London World Championships as well.’
Farah will almost certainly be favourite to defend his distance double at the London stadium this summer after proving his form over 25 laps inside the Barclaycard Arena. The 33-yearold threw his spikes into the crowd in celebration after holding off Kenyan born Rop down the home straight.
‘I got emotional at the end, saying goodbye’ he said. ‘I didn’t expect it to be such a tough race.’
Andy Pozzi reinforced his favourite status for the 60m hurdles title in Belgrade, slicing one hundredth of a second off his world leading time to win in 7.43sec. The 24-year-old has been a magnet for injury throughout his career but his talent is no secret and a first senior title on the international stage could await. ‘The reason I’ve fought through the injuries is because I always felt there was something more there,’ said Pozzi. ‘Another quick time makes me feel much more comfortable going into the Europeans.’
Another likely to be in the hunt for medals is Lorraine Ugen, who won the long jump with a leap of 6.76m, the third best in the world this year.
There was encouragement to be taken from the performance of British youngsters, too. Laviai Nielsen set a personal best of 51.90sec to finish second in the 400m, ahead of twin sister Lina and multiple medalist Eilidh Doyle. Kyle Langford impressed in the 800m, finishing third with a personal best of 1:46.79.