Muir and Reekie claim UK indoor gold to book ‘once in a lifetime’ Glasgow date

Laura Muir’s preparations for the Paris Olympics continued in style as she won 3,000m gold at the UK Indoor Championships on Sunday.

The Scot, an Olympic silver medallist in Tokyo three years ago, won with a time of eight minutes, 58.80 seconds in Birmingham.

That earned her a place at the World Indoor Championships in March, where she will compete in front of a home crowd in Glasgow.

“Paris is the main goal this year but I want to go to Glasgow and be competitive,” she said.

“It’s really special to be going there. To have a global Championships [in Glasgow] now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Muir’s fellow Scot Jemma Reekie also had a night to remember, setting a Championship record as she won the 800m with a time of 1:58.24 that was also the second-best time in the world this year.

Reekie, 25, will also compete in Glasgow after seeing off the challenge of Isabelle Boffey and Erin Wallace.

“It was really about securing my place for Glasgow by taking the win,” said Reekie.

“I wasn’t especially trying to run fast so it just shows what shape I am in. I am so excited for Glasgow. I was happy to get it rolling but I did know the championship record time as I had a look at it this week.

“I start on every start line to win and I will be doing that in Glasgow especially in front of a home crowd. I really want to get my first senior medal as I have been so close so I will take any medal but, of course, my eyes are on gold.”

Double world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson finished ninth in the shot put final with an indoor personal best throw of 13.29m.

That was enough to qualify her for Glasgow, but Johnson-Thompson has opted not to compete as she focuses on preparing for the Olympics.

“I am gutted because I did European indoors in Glasgow in 2018 and I’ve got really good memories of it,” she said.

“It’s just a decision to throw everything into Paris.”

Amelia Campbell won gold with a 17.74m throw.

In the women’s 400m final, Laviai Nielsen finished ahead of sister Lina as the siblings took gold and silver respectively with times of 51.54 and 51.95 seconds – the latter an indoor personal best.

Morgan Lake won the women’s high jump with a 1.85m effort, while Piers Copeland and Jack Higgins won gold in the men’s 1500m and 800m respectively.

Georgia Bell won the women’s 1500m, Ama Pip took the women’s 200m a year after winning the 400m, Scott Lincoln won the men’s shot put and Lee Thompson and James West were winners in the men’s 400m and 3000m respectively.

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