Recovered Muir feeling reassured after sealing final
LAURA MUIR knows that, one day soon, she will redirect her ambitions to soothing sickly kittens and treating lame horses. This odd life as an athlete was not what she dreamt of as a child. Becoming a veterinarian, employing the first-class degree she now holds, was always the goal.
To reach the world championships in Doha, the 26-year-old has had to nurse herself back to health following the untimely calf injury she sustained in July. A model patient, as it turns out. And in last night’s semi-finals of the 1500 metres, she provided a fulsome evidence that she has a clean bill of health by easing assuredly into tomorrow’s final in third place.
The time of 4:01.05 was promising too. The familiar craft that saw her trail only Jenny Simpson of the USA and her Glasgow-based training partner Gabi Stafford provided plenty of reassurance. “Everyone talks about the final but you have to actually get there first,” she said. “These girls are fast, a 4:01 there for a semi-final, I’m really happy to run that time.”
Northern Ireland’s Ciara Mageean also progressed but Englishwoman Sarah McDonald departed. For Muir, it is game on. “I’m so happy to be back and am confident with my body,” the Scot said.
“It is a good confidence boost, we’ve got a couple of days now. It’s gives me a lot of confidence knowing I can run that sort of time feeling comfortably. It’s so hard coming back from injury but I’m so happy to be here, be competitive and I’m looking forward to the final.”
Neil Gourley was provided with a tough initiation on his major championship debut but the British champion proved he fits neatly into this club. Having watched fellow Scots Jake Wightman and Josh Kerr advance onward into this evening’s 1500 metres semi-finals, the 24-yearold followed their lead.
Not before unlocking a few of his tricks when he found himself boxed in on the kerb on the final lap of his heats. “I just had to be a bit more patient and be a little more reliable on that last 150m than usual,” he confessed.
“It’s my first time operating at a world level but I’m definitely looking to make the final,” Gourley, who ran 3:36.51, said. “It’s anyone’s game in the 1500m, more than any other event. Anything can happen. I’m planning on making sure things go my way because I’m ready for this and I’ve prepared better than before. Everything has gone into these championships.”
Amid a blanket finish, Wightman gazed nervously at the video screen before relief arrived. It flashed up fourth with a time of 3:37.72. Kerr grinned manically as avoided any repeat of first round exit of 2017 that has gnawed at him ever since. He kept clear of any mischief to come second in his heat in 3:36.99. as he breezed through in second spot in 3:36.99 with a swagger that suggests he plans to go for gold in Sunday’s final.
“First job done then onto the next one,” the 21-year-old claimed. “I went out hard in 57 secs then it cooled off and I let it happen. But then I picked places off and made a clear run for home.” KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON seized heptathlon gold in Doha with magnificent ease last night, leading from start to finish to savour a triumph which is the greatest of her career.
Smiles, and tears, meshed together at the finish line as she set a British record of 6981 points by winning the concluding 800 metres in 2:07.26.
The hard work done, she could relish the finale as she repelled the expected challenge of Olympic champion Nafi Thiam to add to the European indoor gold earned in Glasgow last March.
The 26-year-old Liverpudlian enjoyed her best-ever heptathlon long jump of 6.77m which extended her overnight lead. The javelin has traditionally been an Achilles heel. Not here.
A throw of 43.93m, a lifetime best by almost a metre. She had the equivalent of a head start of nine seconds on Thiam but the Belgian was broken, 204 points behind in second place.