WORLD ATHLETICS Laura still has Golden Double in her sights
THE Golden Double is still on for Laura Muir as the Scot powered her way into the final of the 1500 metres.
The 24-year-old veterinary student settled for second place in her semi, allowing Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon of Kenya to cross the line first after holding back from claiming a victory that looked well within her grasp to conserve her energy.
She’ll need it because after tomorrow’s 1500m Final the Scot will have 72 hours before the heats of the 5000m begin.
The pace was set by fellow Brit Jessica Judd, who set a personal best in qualifying, she took them out for the first three laps.
Muir tucked herself in fifth until the bell then moved up to battle it out with Kipyegon.
Once she knew she had qualification sewn up, Muir was content to let the Kenyan have her moment of glory.
Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya, who surprised many by deciding to run over the longer distance, finished in third.
In the second heat Laura Weightman, who is coached by Steve Cram, tried to break the field from the front, slipped back, but bravely battled through to snatch fourth spot and a place in the final.
Meanwhile, nine Brits made it through the qualifying rounds in yesterday’s morning session at the World Championships.
Sophie Hitchon secured her place in the final of the women’s hammer throw with a superb 73.05m first-round effort – more than 1.5m further than the mark required to make it through to Monday’s final.
It put the Lancashire athlete in third place behind Polish duo Malwina Kopron and Anita Wlodarczyk.
“It’s nice to get it done on the first round, but if I’d needed to take two more, I would have done it,” said Hitchon, who won Olympic bronze at Rio 2016.
“It’s just about being in the final. I don’t come in thinking I’m going to win a medal just because I won a medal last year. Everyone knows it doesn’t work like that.
“Qualification is never the easiest thing. In Rio it was difficult, but you come out in the final and it’s a different competition.”
All three Brits made it through to the semi-finals of the women’s 100m.
Daryll Neita led the way, holding her form superbly to finish first in the final heat in 11.15, just 0.01 second shy of her personal best.
“It was absolutely amazing, winning in front of a home crowd – and it was just the heat!” she said. “I know there is more to come.
“It’s my second-fastest time ever and a lot of anxiety has gone now I’ve stepped on that track.”
Asha Philip was chased down in the second half of her heat, finishing fourth with a season’s best 11.14.
It was a similar case for Desiree Henry, who lit the Olympic flame back in 2012, as she finish fourth behind US Olympic silver medallist Tori Bowie.
The men’s 400m heats saw Matt Hudson-Smith and Dwayne Cowan progressed to today’s semi-finals.