LAURA Muir yesterday got a sneak preview of the medals she hopes to get her hands on for real at next month’s European Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow.
The 25-year-old, the reigning continental champion indoors over both 1500m and 3000m, gave her seal of approval to the Glasgow School of Art-designed gongs which she hopes to take possession of in just over a fortnight’s time.
Although the schedule for doubling up in both events is rather problematic, Muir announced at the weekend that she has designs on taking two gold medals from her home games, part of a Scottish contingent for the event which could hit double figures. Apart from anything else, Muir said yesterday that she is still driven by the memory of falling during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in this city and failing to make the 1500m final.
“It’s so exciting,” Muir told BBC Scotland. “I missed out on a medal at Glasgow 2014 and I was so gutted. I never thought I’d have the chance to compete at a major championship in Scotland again, so to have this championship here on essentially my home track is just so big for me.
“This is my first time coming into a major championship as defending champion,” she added. “If I could do the ‘double double’, that would be so special. And to do it in this stadium, on home soil, where I’ve got lots of friends and family coming, it would be so special.”
Muir is certainly in form, having claimed the British 3000m title last week in Birmingham and even breaking the Scottish record over 800m a couple of weeks previously. She goes again this Saturday in a high-class top-of-the-bill mile at the Muller Grand Prix in Birmingham, after which the selection window for the European Indoors formally closes and the final selection decisions are made.
While a number of Scottish athletes must perform on Saturday to rubber stamp their tickets for Glasgow, Muir is already sure to be joined at the Emirates Arena by her friend and training partner Jemma Reekie, who claimed the British title last weekend.
“To be setting personal bests and breaking Scottish records indoors is fantastic at any point in time, but for it to be a month ahead of the European Indoors in Glasgow is great,” said Muir.
Meanwhile, a raft of star names will spend the Saturday prior to the European Indoors running around Callendar Park in Falkirk for the Lindsays National XC event. The 26th edition of the joint men’s and women’s championships has attracted a record entry, with 2458 names put forward to be on the start line in an event which is thought to be the biggest participation national championship event in Scottish sport.
For now, a diverse start list includes Olympians Steph Twell, Freya Ross, Derek Hawkins and Andy Butchart – although the latter may prioritise his preparations for the European Indoors if and when his selection is confirmed this week –Glasgow 2014 marathon runner Ross Houston, Paralympian Derek Rae, Team Scotland triathletes Marc Austin and Grant Sheldon and GB ultra runners James Stewart, Marco Consani and Kyle Greig.
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