Tim Hutchings Tells Us Why There’s Much to Look Forward to in Athletics in 2017.
1 The IAAF World Championships are heading to London this summer and the 2012 Olympic effect will be in full evidence. If you’ve not booked tickets yet, then don’t delay. In fact, do everything you can to secure some sensibly-priced tickets and join the party – I guarantee it’ll be worth it. The stadium is slightly reduced in size from its Olympic format, but it still has a magical atmosphere and it’ll be absolutely rocking for this coming August’s championships.
2 Something is going on in British middle and long distance running that is incredibly special and for some reason, it’s being led by an astonishing Scottish trio:
a) Laura Muir fronts the charge with her awe-inspiring European indoor record over 3000m in Karlsruhe last Saturday night. Her 8:26.41 clocking not only defeated one of the very best Kenyans in Hellen Obiri (a former world indoor champion), but makes the veterinary student from Dundee Hawkhill Harriers the fifth fastest performer ever indoors.
b) Callum Hawkins has just run a legal 60:00 Scottish record at the Marugame Half Marathon in Japan, making him No.2 Brit all-time and No.4 European (with two above him what you’d call “well dodgy”). I love Callum’s style of racing – there’s something of the Steve Jones about him, a point-and press type racer who just oozes guts and determination. We can now forget his 60:24 “non-record” in Glasgow on October 2.
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