Catch Laura v Lynsey at Hampden

Thursday 12th June 2014

Laura Muir is relishing the prospect of the Diamond League coming to Hampden – and an 800m showdown with British rivals Lynsey Sharp and Jessica Judd.

The race is just one of a number of enticing events at the Sainsbury’s Summer Series event on July 11 and 12 at the National Stadium.

Olympic champions and World champions are lined up and the Scottish contingent at the moment numbers seven with Laura and Lynsey to be joined by Eilish McColgan, Eilidh Child, Chris O’Hare, Libby Clegg and Stef Reid.

With Mo Farah on the cast list, too, it is a weekend not to be missed and tickets are available here http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/

The women’s 800m race will pitch together Muir and Sharp with both having been in fine form in Holland last Sunday.

Laura went fourth in the Scottish all-time list for 1500m while Lynsey is now second only to Susan Scott – the only Scottish woman to have run under the two-minute barrier.

‘A sub two minutes is on the cards the way I’m running now,’ said a confident Muir, as she assessed the new track at Hampden.

‘I feel I could have run faster in Hengelo (in the 1500m). It’s quite a landmark for a distance runner to break that mark, even for guys. I’m not going to push for it though. Times come when they come.

‘The Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix will help in terms of Commonwealth Games preparation because you get a sense of the atmosphere and what it’s going to be like at Hampden.

‘The stadium looks amazing. I’ve only ever been to one football game before and it was here, as a guest of scottishathletics last year when Scotland played Wales.

‘It’s great to get a feel of the track because some are faster than others. It will be nice to get out there and see what it’s like.’

Talking to reporters earlier this week, Muir described herself as ‘pretty mediocre’ as an athlete when she arrived at Glasgow University three years ago to study veterinary medicine.

Working with coach Andy Young and a new training regime produced stunning results but there has been a learning curve, too, for the Dundee Hawkhill Harriers athlete.

‘I remember during my first high standard race in Manchester I was spiked and pushed and came off the track thinking, ‘What have I been doing for the past seven years?’

‘It has been a very steep learning curve over the past couple of years but I enjoy it and now I know I have to just shrug it off and get my elbows out.

‘It’s strange. I’m relatively quiet but when I go out on the track there’s a flip of a switch.’

Tags: Diamond League, Hampden, Laura Muir, Lynsey Sharp, Mo Farah