New horizons! Jake sub 3:30 and Laura lands British Record

Saturday 15th August 2020

Photo via Athletics Weekly by JP Durand

Athletics Weekly: Jake Wightman interview

Jake Wightman took Scottish Men’s 1500m running into new territory on a sensational night in Monaco.

And Laura Muir brought down another British Record held previously by Dame Kelly Holmes as she finished second in a fast Women’s 1000m race.

Wightman savoured the Diamond League experience to take his own Scottish 1500m Record under 3 minutes 30 for the first time.

And he’s now second on the British all-time list with that time, remarkably, quicker than anything ever run by Seb Coe, Steve Cram and Steve Ovett – with Mo Farah the record holder.

Jake took third place in an amazing race in Monaco to clock 3:29:47 and break the Record he set in Doha last November (3:31.87).

Timothy Cheruiyot won the race with a World Leading 3:28.45 as Jakob Ingebrigtsen clocked 3:28.68 for second.

Many congratulations to Jake, dad/coach Geoff Wightman and his family and support team.

NEW FRONTIERS
That @JakeSWightman run the first ever by a Scot sub 3:30 and means he is second only to Mo Farah in British all-time list and quicker than @jarrowarrow @sebcoe Steve Ovett – a huge achievement@EdinburghAC @WightmanGeoff @MaguireSal @BritAthletics https://t.co/khoBIoCpPv

— scottishathletics (@scotathletics) August 14, 2020

🇬🇧 NEW BRITISH RECORD 🇬🇧@lauramuiruns betters @damekellyholmes' mark in the 1000m with a great race in Monaco

Gritted teeth down the home straight to battle back and clock 2:30.82. Easy?! pic.twitter.com/aQuEysyFFj

— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) August 14, 2020

Within a few minutes, the Scottish presence on the track was two as Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie faced off with Faith Kipyegon in a high calibre 1000m showdown.

As it transpired, Muir smashed another British Record held by Dame Kelly Holmes as she took second place behind the super-fast Kipyegon – who went close to the World Record

The Olympic 1500m champion took the race in an astonishing 2:29.15 and Muir was only slightly adrift in second in 2:30.82. That smashed the Scottish and British Records with Holmes having clocked 2:32.55.

Jemma Reekie was fourth in the race yet inside that Holmes time, too, as she recorded 2:31.11 with Irish athlete Ciara Mageean coming through late to deny the young Scot third place in a thrilling race.

It was impressive unning by both Scots and congratulations to them and their coach Andy Young.

‘It was so great to be back,’ said Laura, pipped by Jemma in Trieste a couple of weeks ago by two hundredths of a second over 800m./

‘I’ve raced once already, but it was a very small meet, so to come here to race in such a great field and the crowd’s response has been really, really nice.

‘Working together with Jemma has ensured we were working really hard out of lockdown and pushing one another really hard, so even though we didn’t have many competitions, we were still motivated to push each other on and run well.

‘I think you’ve seen that in these last couple of races we’ve been running really well. Racing a time like today gives me a lot of confidence going into an Olympic year.

‘To do that in my second run, to run a British record (held by Dame Kelly Holmes) I’m really pleased with it.’

Earlier, Eilish McColgan had been the first Scot in action in a Women’s 5000m where the competition was severe.

Hellen Obiri of Kenya won it with a world leading time of 14:22.13 as Sifan Hassan dropped out after 4k. Brit Laura Weightman came up with a great run for third to claim a PB at 14:35.44.

It was tougher for Eilish on the night in her opening engagement of 2020 and she came home in 14:57.37.

Track is back ! The @scotathletics juggernaut of talent keeps rolling. Monaco to kick start @Diamond_League was superb, thanks for the entertainment @WorldAthletics it was badly missed.

— Stephen Maguire (@SMaguirecoach) August 14, 2020

Tags: Eilish McColgan, Herculis Meet, Jake Wightman, Jemma Reekie, Laura Muir, Monaco, Wanda Diamond League