Laura Muir has revealed plans to chase the European cross-country title in France next month as she begins her long build-up to landing an Olympic medal in Rio next summer.
The British 1500m champion was crowned as Athlete of the Year at Scottish Athletics’ annual awards at the end of a season when she was fifth at the world championships while moving second on the UK all-time list behind Kelly Holmes.
The veterinary student, whose mentor Andy Young was named Coach of the Year, will likely spend a spell at altitude in a bid to accelerate her progress but she is vowing to again break new ground.
“I’m going to be based in Glasgow for most of the winter but I’m hoping to get away, maybe to South Africa, for training during Christmas because I can’t go during term time,” the 22-year-old said. “And then I’ll open up the indoor season in January. European Cross is an option. I’ll go to the trials in Liverpool and see if I qualify. I’m still in the Under-23 category but it’s 6K so it’s difficult to tell how I’d do. But I’d love to make the team.”
Portland in March, however, has been crossed off Muir’s itinerary with a tilt at the world indoor title not fitting in with her mission to peak in Brazil in August. “I have exams in March and April and with it being in America, it would be a long way to travel,” she confirmed. “So while I’ll do a few indoor races, I’m going to skip the championships.”
European junior 1500m champion Josh Kerr took the Under-20 Athlete of the Year award with Banchory’s sprint prospect Alisha Rees, twice a Commonwealth Youth Games medallist, taking the Under-17 prize.
UK Athletics head coach Paula Dunn, meanwhile, has forecast a medal bonanza at next year’s Paralympic Games after her squad ended the IPC World Championships in Doha with 31 medals to finish fourth in the overall standings, one place higher than in Lyon two years ago.
Scottish teenager Maria Lyle added gold in the 4x100m relay to her silver sprint double on the last day as GB&NI’s quartet broke the world record while Hannah Cockcroft completed a hat-trick of victories in the T34 400m to finish the event on a high.
And Dunn, whose own targets were exceeded with the haul of 13 golds, nine silvers and nine bronzes, has now challenged her athletes to maintain the momentum headed into Rio 2016 - and the following summer’s worlds in London - in what will be a critical spell in maintaining the profile of disability sport.
“We can’t afford to take this for granted going into a Paralympic year, but it’s a really good indication of the strength and depth we have across the board,” she said.
“Six debutants have medalled, five world records have been broken and all six of the reigning world champions here have regained their titles, which goes to show we are in a really strong position moving forwards. “We’ve got a huge two years ahead with both Rio and a home championships in London on the horizon and I am confident that we can replicate and even surpass the performances we’ve seen over the last 10 days of action.”
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