MUIR EYES GLORY AT THE GAMES
Muir says pal Reekie can help push her to glory at Olympics
Laura Muir claims stopping Jemma Reekie from poaching her unofficial title as Scotland’s track queen can help propel them both to Olympic glory.
The Euro champ missed out on her world record bid as she won the 1000 metres at yesterday’s Muller Grand Prix in Glasgow after seeing pal Jem deliver another sensational 1500m .
It tees up the rivalry for the training partners, who are now set to duel all the way to Tokyo 2020.
And with Reekie bagging three British bests in a month to launch herself into the big time, Muir reckons her 21-year-old rival is now nipping at her heels.
She said: “I think we are very close to that. Certainly she has the speed and I have the endurance. I would probably give her the 800m and me the 3000m and 5000m. But at the 1500m we are very close.
“It’s really exciting at training. We’re pushing each other. We have two world class athletes.”
Reekie, 21, couldn’t make it a fourth UK record in three weeks but she underlined why the athletics world is drooling over her potential by powering to victory.
The Ayrshire ace fought her way out of trouble to bolt clear on the last lap of the 1500m, clocking 4:04.07.
She said: “I went to the inside and thought, ‘ I’ll just ride it.’ I tried not to waste too much energy and hope a gap opened up. It worked out. There were a few points I had to get my elbows out. But that’s middle distance running. I’m still learning but to have the confidence I could do that is good.”
Reekie has one more indoor outing in France in midweek then it’s back to training for Tokyo.
She added: “That’s the difference. I’m not just coming to line up on the track now. I’m coming to win.”
Muir, 26, reckons she still has more to give after the Achilles problems that dogged her before Christmas and said: “For her to be performing so well is very exciting. We’re so close.
“She is like a little sister to me, so to see her doing really well doesn’t put a downer on me whatsoever. It’s great to see and it makes me push even harder and be a better athlete too.”
Scots duo Guy Learmouth and Josh Kerr came third and fourth in the 800m with the pair set to square off at the Emirates Arena for the British title next weekend. But new Scottish record holder Nikki Manson slumped to last place in the high jump – with Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahivhikh taking victory.
Swede star Mondo Duplantis set a pole vault world record of 6.18m, raising the mark he set seven days earlier by one centimetre.
It was the first global best set in Scotland for 14 years and scored him a cool $30,000 bonus.
He said: “Everything builds up to it. It’s the best little split second that could ever be. That little freefall is a magical moment.
“I want to jump high, I want to break the world record but f irst you’ve got to win and that’s’ the main goal.”