Muir and Reekie shine in Sweden
HOUSEMATES for so long in this year of confinement, it’s no wonder that Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie have seen their attitudes and aspirations converge.
The dynamic duo didn’t ease off during their time together in lockdown. And even when Andy Young’s Glasgow-based training group were working remotely, productivity levels barely skipped a beat.
That was more than evident at the Stockholm Diamond League as Muir clocked the fastest 1500m in the world this year, before Reekie won the 800 on a day when four British athletes took top spot.
Muir and Reekie divided, and then conquered, in emphatic fashion yesterday. Indeed, their victories said everything about their talent and self-belief.
Less than a fortnight after breaking Kelly Holmes’ 1000m record, Muir maintained her form with an impressive 3:57.86, ripping clear to repeat her victory in the Swedish capital 12 months ago.
Taking her turn barely an hour later at this second Diamond League stop of the summer, training partner Reekie’s triumph was the best of carbon copies.
Shoulder to shoulder at the bell with the world championship silver medallist of last year, Raevyn Rogers, the 22-year-old held her position on the inside and then made the forefront her own.
By the end, almost ten metres separated the European Under-23 champion from the American as she crossed the line in 1:59.68. Ruthless and impressive.
‘I enjoyed it and I like to run fast,’ said Reekie. ‘My coach said if you have a kick at the end, kick, and I felt good so I did.
‘I don’t have a completely set plan because you never know what’s going to happen in a race, but it went one of the ways it could have went.’
That acceleration, according to Muir, can take Reekie all the way to the apex. The elder of the twosome might talk down her own speed at the expense of her formidable endurance, but she has quite the kick of her own.
In full control, 27-year-old Muir bolted out of reach, leading home a British 1-2-3, with Laura Weightman and Melissa Courtney rounding off the podium and her Dundee Hawkhill Harriers club-mate Eilish McColgan eighth in 4:03.74.
‘It went well and I’m very happy with it,’ said Muir. ‘It was windy. I felt strong in the last lap and I was able to work well into the wind and come away with a clear win.
‘My strength is my endurance and I really wanted to run fast today. And, ultimately, I made sure I cut behind the pacers as best I could when I did have them and then tried the rest by myself.’
Without an Olympics in Tokyo this summer, these are performances without significant immediate reward. But there are major benefits from the two Scots’ mini-tour.
Tactical learning. Global exposure. Additional validation, for Reekie especially, who has soaked up so much from her colleague.
‘We’re fortunate that we train together and are world-class athletes — we complement each other in different ways,’ said Reekie.
‘I’m bringing her on in speed and she’s bringing me on in endurance and we’re both working so hard together. I’ve run 1:57 indoors, so I was hoping to run a bit quicker. But this year is about getting experience before next year and learning to win.’
On a fine night for the Brits, Adam Gemili beat a modest field to take the 200m in 20.61sec, while Holly Bradshaw cleared 4.69m in winning the pole vault.
Scotland’s Neil Gourley was eighth in his first 1500m since last year’s world final in 3:38.30 as Timothy Cheruiyot breezed to another comfortable triumph.
Norway’s Karsten Warholm clocked the second-quickest 400m hurdles in history of 46.87 secs to move within nine-hundredths of a second of Kevin Young’s 28-year-old world record.
American Donavan Brazier pulled out his tenth straight win in the men’s 800m, with new British junior record holder Max Burgin sixth in the biggest event of the 19-year-old’s career so far.
Elsewhere, Scotland’s Josh Kerr maintained his hot streak by beating American Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz for victory over 800m in Portland in 1:46.69.