The Scotsman

Muir will be a top medal hope for GB in Belgrade

● In-form Scot targets a middle-distance double at European Indoor Championsh­ip

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In-form Laura Muir will launch her bid to become a double champion after the Great Britain squad for the European Indoor Championsh­ips was confirmed.

The 23-year-old veterinary student from Milnathort is included in the team for Serbia from 3-5 March.

Joining her are fellow Scots Allan Smith, Guy Learmonth, Eilish Mccolgan, Steph Twell and Eilidh Doyle.

The squad, also includes defending 60metres champion Richard Kilty, Katarina Johnson-thompson and world No 1 one for the 60m hurdles, Andrew Pozzi.

Muir is in the form of her life after taking a second off Dame Kelly Holmes’ British indoor 1,000m time at the Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham on Saturday and will race in the 1,500m and 3,000m.

Performanc­e director Neil Black said: “I’m pleased with the blend of this team.

“We’ve got Olympic medallists in Robbie Grabarz, Eilidh Doyle and Asha Philip, World indoor medallists in Lorraine Ugen and Richard Kilty, as well as exceptiona­lly talented athletes like Katarina Johnsontho­mpson, Laura Muir and Andrew Pozzi, all of whom I expect to make the step up this year and start winning global medals.

“Then we have Jazmin Sawyers, Steph Twell and Lee Emanuel, all European medallists who should be looking to make a statement of intent for 2017 by repeating those performanc­es and finishing on the podium in Belgrade.

“Plus, there is a good depth of emerging talent with the likes of Shelayna Oskan-clarke, Morgan Lake and David Omoregie, who all have potential

0 Scotland’s Laura Muir in 1,000m action at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix. to claim medals. With a home World Championsh­ips in London, 2017 is an even bigger year for us than 2016, so starting it off in a positive manner is essential and I am expecting to see a number of medal-winning performanc­es in Belgrade.”

Muir also set a new European record with the second-fastest run of all time in

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