Mo Farah’s excellence has long been habitual with Olympic and world titles simply a by-product. However, breathtaking performances are likewise becoming Laura Muir’s norm. And while the Englishman signed off his indoor career with a European record at the Muller Grand Prix in Birmingham, the Scot stole the show by doing likewise with the latest in a string of performances that have propelled her to the front of the line of succession to inherit British athletics' throne.
The 23-year-old’s 1000 metres time of 2:31.95 was the second-fastest in history, and beyond Kelly Holmes existing UK mark, in her debut at the admittedly rarely-run distance. Maria Mutola’s world record remains intact but Muir will surely be afforded further assaults. “I am delighted,” she said. “I really wanted to get the win, that was really important. To beat Kelly’s record is amazing and to be so close to the world record is also very encouraging for me.”
Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, the club which once spawned Liz McColgan and now her daughter Eilish, plus Muir, has much to be proud of.
“Jenny Meadows was saying our club must have the highest concentration of female records, maybe in the world,” claimed the younger McColgan, who came fifth in the 3000m. “You’ve got Laura at 3:55 over 1500m, my mum 4:01, me 4:03. Your top three, their records are pretty outstanding. And then at 5k, you’ve got Laura 14:49, mum’s 14:58, and me 15:05. It’s amazing to have that.
“I raced Laura at Scottish Unis and to see the transformation from here to now . . . But it makes you realise the girls at the top aren’t invincible. When I was younger, I’d look at the Kenyans and Ethiopians and think we can’t beat them. Laura has proved you can at the 1500 and 3000 and shown the next generation that you can run just as quick as them.”
Farah has long relished in proving nationality is no barrier. The 33-year-old was pushed to the brink by Bahrain’s Albert Rop but survived to lower the European 5000m best to 13:09.43. Better than last month in Edinburgh, he said, but still more work required if he is to exit at the summer’s world championships in London with yet another golden double.
“I’m going to go back to Ethiopia and do a bit more training, then back to the US,” he confirmed. “Then in April, I’ll do a half-marathon, I think in Cape Town, 15 April, not confirmed yet but that’s the aim. Then I’ll come back to US, then Prefontaine, then one race to test myself, then 10,000m in Ostrava.” The latter will be a world record attempt. One more push to the absolute limit.
UK Athletics selectors will meet today to finalise their squad for next week’s European Indoor Championships and it is all but certain the Caledonian contingent will number five. With high jumper Allan Smith failing to obtain the required standard in Birmingham, only Muir’s petition to double over 1500 and 3000 metres has to be rubber stamped – hint, it will – for her to join McColgan, Steph Twell, Eilidh Doyle and Guy Learmonth in Belgrade.
Among the few dilemmas will surround Richard Kilty and whether the Teesside Tornado will be allowed to defend the 60 metres title he claimed in Prague two years ago. The reigning world indoor champion, whose third place in Birmingham will enhance his case for selection, false started at the British trials but revealed his shoes had been stolen from the call room prior to the race.
Was it sabotage? “I don’t know. It’s one of those things but next time I’ll know to bring two pairs of spikes, lock them up and that’s it. This week I woke up Wednesday with cold sweats, you can probably hear it in my voice, I’m full of flu. I was considering not coming and when I was warming up I could barely breathe.
“But I thought I’m going to have to be tough, I want to be able to defend my title. I just came out here and muscled it and relied on my instincts. I do need to learn how to dip a little bit better but I think I’ll gain a tenth of a second once my illness clears up and I’m in Belgrade and rested. Now my mind is at peace.”
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