The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Laura Muir hopes to head Scots’ medal challenge in Birmingham
Laura Muir will expect to lead a Scottish medal challenge at the UK Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham this weekend.
The Milnathort athlete contests the 3,000 matt he event, which doubles up as Euro Trials for the team for the first European Indoors in Scotland since 1990, with the Emirates Arena the venue on March 1.
Muir, who set a a Scottish record over 800m indoors on Wednesday night in Poland, will be joined by Dundee Hawkhill colleague Eilish McColgan and training partner Jemma Reekie.
Muir is also entered for the 800m and 1,500m and over the shorter event she will come up against Scottish outdoor record holder Lynsey Sharp.
McColgan and Reekie are also entered for the 1,500m, as is Fife athlete Stephie Pennycook.
World indoor bronze medallist Eilidh Doyle heads the 400m entries but the Kinross athlete will not have it easy.
Inverness athlete Zoey Clark has not run a 400 mt his winter but a 23.60- second 200 matt he recent Scottish Indoor Championships showed she is bound to be a contender.
Chris O’Hare lines up for the 1,500m while Andrew Butchart continues on the comeback trail following injury as he contests the 3,000m, in which Perth Strathtay’s Sol Sweeney will hope to challenge the front-runners.
In total, 41 top Scots are headed for Birmingham and places on that GB team are the top target as well as others looking to win medals or make finals.
Others seeking to be in contention for Glasgow 2019 would include Chris O’Hare, Neil Gourley, Guy Learmonth, Sol Sweeney, J emma Reekie, Adam Craig, Beth Potter, Nikki Manson, Emma Nuttall and David Smith.
Stephen Maguire, head of performance and coaching for scottish athletics, who will be an interested spectator.
“It’s a really big weekend coming up again and I want to wish all the Scottish athletes and their coaches all the very best for Birmingham,’ said Northern Irishman Maguire, who returned to Scotland six months ago from a role with British Athletics.
“At the top end, it should be about making the team for Glasgow 2019 and using the Trials as a stepping stone in terms of their performance levels. They are looking to peak at the start of March.
“I think, with it being hosted in Scotland, the European Indoors is probably more of a target than it has been in other years. They want to compete at the Emirates in front of a passionate Scottish crowd and compete for medals if possible.
“But, of course, it’ s not all about Glasgow 2019. There will be PBs hopefully and places in finals.”