WRITTEN FOR THE BRITISH ATHLETICS WEBSITE
A Scottish trio sped to striking lifetime bests at the IAAF Diamond League event in Monaco this evening (July 21), as the Herculis International meeting provided valuable and promising preparation for nine Britons ahead of the IAAF World Championships in London in a fortnights’ time.
European indoor 1500m and 3,000m champion, Laura Muir (Andy Young) took nearly eight seconds off her lifetime best to record a swift 8:30.64 for third place in the 3,000m.
Behind runaway winner, Hellen Obiri – the Olympic 5,000m silver medallist and 2012 world indoor 3,000m champion of Kenya, who clocked a world-leading 8:23.14 – 24-year-old Muir’s latest personal best follows a fine 1:58.69 800m in Lausanne and a 4:18.03 mile in London – all pointing towards an exciting 1500m and 5,000m double attack in London next month.
Arguably the surprise of the race from a British perspective however, was European indoor 3,000m bronze medallist Eilish McColgan (Liz Nutall), who reduced her lifetime best by almost twelve seconds to register 8:31.39 in fourth.
Returning from injury, the 26-year-old displayed great versatility again, following 15:07.43 and 32:10.59 runs for 5,000m and 10,000m, respectively this season. Tonight will have provided a timely and hugely encouraging confidence-boost ahead of her appearance in the British capital.
In 13th position, British 5,000m champion, Steph Twell (Mick Woods) clocked 9:01.04. All three Scots will join forces in the 5,000m in London.
In a scorching fast race, 2014 European bronze medallist, Chris O’Hare (Terrance Mahon) sped to a superb 1500m lifetime best and Scottish record, stopping the clock at 3:33.61 for seventh position.
In a race won by world silver medallist, Elijah Motonei Manangoi (3:28.80), the 26-year-old British champion continued the summer of his career, following victory in London a fortnight ago and a swift 1:47.34 800m personal best last month.
He will now head into the home world championships in the form of his life, with his confidence understandably sky-high.
Continuing his impressive consistency, Chijindu Ujah (Stuart McMillian) – the victor in Rabat last Sunday – finished fourth in the 100m with his fourth 10.02 clocking of the summer.
In a race won by Jamaica’s world record holder and eight-time Olympic and eleven-time world champion, Usain Bolt (9.95), Ujah – the 23-year-old 2013 European junior champion has impressed this season, also claiming victories in Rome and London – now a spot on the podium in London must still be a realistic aim for the sprint sensation.
Rounding into fine form in time for the peak of the 2017 campaign, Lynsey Sharp (Terrance Mahon) registered a 1:58.01 season’s best for sixth place in the 800m, behind South Africa’s two-time Olympic and world champion, Caster Semenya (1:55.27 WL).
The 27-year-old 2014 European champion – who finished seventh in Lausanne and fourth in London, respectively, improved her best time of the year by eight tenths of a second, indicating her developing shape ahead of the global championships.
Regaining her fitness week by week following injury, European champion Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie) ran a significant 22.89 200m season’s best for an impressive third place.
The 21-year-old came home behind Olympic 100m and 200m fourth-placer, Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast (22.25) and the Briton will now contest the half lap event in London in a more encouraged frame of mind.
In the non-Diamond League 400m hurdles event, Eilidh Doyle (Brian Doyle) recorded her third-quickest time of the season, with a 54.75 clocking to claim fourth place behind 2013 NCAA champion, Kori Carter of the USA (53.36).
The 30-year-old British champion’s performance follows top-four finishes in Lausanne, London and Rabat, respectively – and such consistency should bode well for the 2014 European champion come London.
Elliot Giles (Jon Bigg) ran his second-quickest time of the season with 1:46.10 for ninth position in the non-IAAF Diamond League 800m event.
The 23-year-old European bronze medallist and British champion – who recorded a 1:44.99 lifetime best in London – followed home Kenya’s 1:43.73 man and NCAA indoor and outdoor champion, Emmanuel Korir (1:43.10 WL).
