Laura sets British Indoor Record at 1500m – and Jemma wins 800m, too

Tuesday 9th February 2021

Laura in action in France (photo courtesy of Lievin event organisers)

Laura Muir came away with the fastest time by a British woman for 1500m indoors tonight with a run for second place in France in 3:59.58.

Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay went with what seemed like a crazy fast pace and somehow held on to set a World Record at 3:53.09.

Laura was left on her own almost throughout the race but but still came up with an excellent start to her 2021 with a British and Scottish Record for indoors and of course thus an indoor PB.

Prior to the race on commentary it was highlighted that only seven women in history had run sub four minutes for the 1500m indoors, a statistic which certainly applies some context to the performances in Lievin.

Well done to Laura and to her coach, Andy Young.

BBC Sport Scotland website coverage

Herald interview with Andy Young by Susan Egelstaff

‘Picked up where she left off’ might just about be the right expression to summarise Jemma Reekie’s first race for five months.

Back where she won indoors a year ago, the Scot comfortably saw off all challenges over four laps to take the win in 2:00.65 ahead of Ethiopian Habitam Alemu (at 2:00.86).

Norwegian Hedda Hynne was third – with a National Record for Norway – and young English athlete, Keely Hodgkinson, who broke the British Junior Record 10 days earlier when running sub two minutes, took fourth place in 2:00.92.

Jemma hadn’t taken to the track since the Diamond League in Rome on September 17 last year when she won the 800m in fine style.

Well done to Jemma and coach Andy on a very solid start to 2021.

Guy Learmonth came through for fifth place in the Men’s 800m B race with a run at 1:47.94.

The race was won by Spanish athlete Marciano Garcia in 1:47.28 with Kyle Langford pushed back to seventh after leading during the final lap.

With ten athletes in the field in a six-lane track it arguably wasn’t the opportunity for a quick time which Guy had hoped for.

British Record ?
Really happy to start 2021 with my first ever sub4 minute run over 1500m indoors!
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#2021 #indoors #1500m #sub4 #britishrecord #nike #meetinglievin @ Liévin https://t.co/gNaNCu691p

— Laura Muir (@lauramuiruns) February 10, 2021