The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Muir rejects ‘dirty tricks’ accusation after 800m victory
ATHLETICS: Fellow Scot claims ‘dirty tricks’ after surprise late entry
GRAHAM BENNISON Scotland’s Laura Muir was forced to defend herself after being accused of playing games ahead of her British Championships win.
The Dundee Hawkhill Harrier won the 800 metres to claim the British title in Birmingham yesterday, but her rivals were unhappy with what they perceived to be a lack of clarity.
Lynsey Sharp, who came fifth to put her European Championships spot at risk, appeared to accuse her fellow Scot of dirty tricks and felt British Athletics allowed her to enter after the deadline.
Muir, who won in two minutes 01.22 seconds, could also face a protest but any action is likely to be rejected.
The start list did not update online following last Monday’s entry deadline, despite Muir entering 24 hours beforehand, but, with a European Championships place on the line, Sharp hit out.
Sharp, who could still earn a discretionary place on the team for Berlin in August, said: “Games have been played all week by individuals and our governing body which is meant to be unbiased.
“You can call me bitter, but I play by the rules and I came here prepared based on what I knew the field was going to be and that was different on Saturday.”
Data shows Muir, who also entered the 1,500m but did not race, did register on time.
She said: “We accepted the entry for the 800m over a week ago. It just didn’t update online. It’s always been in our minds to do the 800m. I think some of them maybe knew.
“Some of them knew from having raced in Oslo. I’m European lead in both 800m and 1,500m, so I don’t know if it’s a huge surprise for me to do the 800m. I’m a strong contender in that event.”
A statement from British Athletics read: “British Athletics can confirm that no athlete entered in the women’s 800m has been granted late entry or showed favouritism in any manner in the lead-up to this weekend’s championships.”
Six men had already bagged the Berlin qualifying time over 1,500m and the race fulfilled its promise as the most hotly contested of the weekend.
A slow start saw the field still bunched with 250m to go when Jake Wightman took off, chased by Edinburgh team colleague Chris O’Hare as the two battled to the finish line.
O’Hare dipped for the line in 3:46.72 shading Wightman’s 3:46.86.
Giffnock North athlete Neil Gourley ensured a repeat of last year when Scottish athletes posted a 1-2-3 taking third in 3:46.87. Edinburgh’s Josh Kerr, fastest in 2018 going into the race, had to settle for fifth with 3:48.02.
Eilish McColgan (Dundee Hawkhill) was content to sit in as the opening laps of the 5,000m were covered at a pedestrian pace. It wasn’t until two laps to go that the pace quickened and with eight athletes in contention at the bell it was Steph Twell who kicked to victory in 16:07:25. Welsh athlete Melissa Courtney chased home for silver (16:07.59) while McColgan claimed individual bronze timed at 16:08.06.
Edinburgh AC’s Beth Dobbin, who at 22.83 seconds twice broke the longstanding Scottish 200m record last month, did it again by topping her heat in 22.75.
Dobbin proceeded to go even better in a hotly contested final, coming through to snatch victory in the last five metres with 22.59, another Scottish record, championship best and sixth fastest of all-time on the UK list.
Bianca Williams was second in 22.60, with Jodie Wiliams third sharing a time of 22.78 with Shannon Hylton in fourth.
With defending European champion Dina Asher-Smith assured of her place in Berlin, four GB athletes could now contest the 200m at the Europeans.
Fresh from her Diamond League victory in Stockholm, Asher-Smith took the 100m final in a 10.97 championship record, beating Daryll Neita (11.19) and Bianca Williams (11.20). In the men’s 100m final, Reece Prescod continued his fine form to retain his title in 10.06 ahead of Zharnel Hughes and CJ Ujah.
In the absence of Eilidh Doyle, Meghan Beesley took the women’s 440m hurdles title in 55.73 while Salebased Scottish athlete Kirsten McAslan placed second inside the Berlin qualifying time at 56.48.
Elliott Giles (Birchfield) won out in a blanket finish in the men’s 800m final in 1:50.28 while Lasswade athlete Guy Learmonth snatched bronze in 1:50.43.
Field event championship bests came in the long jump, with Loraine Ugen reaching 7.02m. Morgan Lake took the high jump title with 1.97m, beating Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s 1.90m.
Other results: Heats, 800m – 4 B Greenwood (Perth Strathtay) 1:51.36; 1500m – 6 S Sweeney (Perth Strathtay) 3:48.66, 10 B Potrykus (Pitreavie) 3:54.84; 400m hurdles – 3 D Gall (Dundee Hawkhill U20) 53.73. Women. 800m – C Anderson (Perth Strathtay) 2:11.92.