Laura sets a new Scottish record at 1500m

Saturday 5th July 2014

IT has been 27 years and a day since Yvonne Murray – closely followed by Liz Lynch – set the Scottish record for 1500m on 4 July 1987.

Now Murray’s time of 4.01.20, with Liz at 4.01.38 in the same race, has been eclipsed by Laura Muir with a superb Diamond League run in Paris.

The young Scot clocked 4.00.07 to finish sixth in a fast race in the Stade de France won by Holland’s Sifan Hassan in a World Lead 3.57.00.

Muir’s previous best for the metric mile distance had been 4.02.91 set only a few weeks ago in Holland.

That Hengelo performance had taken Laura up to fourth in the all-time list and now she heads those great names from the best with Steph Twell now pushed back to fourth.

Laura had picked up a silver medal in the British Champs in Birmingham the week earlier behind Laura Weightman, but she turned the tables on her English rival with a great last lap in Paris.

Social media was alive with the bulletins from scottishathletics on Saturday evening and Liz and others were quick off the mark to offer their congratulations.

All at scottishathletics would like to congratulate Laura, her family and coach Andy Young with the run taking the Scot to fifth on the British all-time list, as well. Weightman clocked 4.00.17 for her seventh place.

*Eilish McColgan was in action in Paris as well and was at 9.54.56 in the 3000m steeplechase.

Laura and Eilish are among at least seven Scots due to compete in the Diamond League at Hampden next weekend (July 11 and 12). See www.britishathletics.org.uk for tickets.

Tags: Diamond League, Eilish McColgan, Hampden, Laura Muir, Liz Lynch, Steph Twell, Yvonne Murray