Masterful Muir

Another race, another record for the young star who now wants to add medals to all of her accolades.

JUST four days into the new year, when Laura Muir set her first record of 2017, she did so largely on her own. In breaking Liz McColgan’s long-standing 5000m indoor British best, she was the sole athlete pounding the boards of Glasgow’s Emirates Arena track for the final 2000m and was urged on by a fairly sparse, albeit hugely enthusiastic, crowd.

With much fanfare and a raucous, packed arena, the proposition was a little different in Birmingham, although the outcome was the same. The general rule so far this year has been that, when Muir races, records fall.

This time it was the 1000m in her sights, specifically Dame Kelly Holmes’ British record of 2:32.96. Maria Mutola’s world mark of 2:30.94 was also a clear target. There was some unhelpful jostling on the start line but it didn’t take long for Muir to put herself where she likes to be, at the head of the field which, on this occasion, was being paced perfectly by Jenny Meadows.