Scottish gold joy as Sarah, Neil seize 1500m titles in high drama

Sunday 3rd August 2025

Photo by Gary Mitchell

*This report subject to corrections and additions through Monday.

Sarah Calvert delivered the race of her life to win gold in Birmingham and shock the crowd and the watching British athletics public.

And Neil Gourley made it a Scottish 1500m victory double only moments later as he won his final for the third successive year and the fourth time outdoors overall.

What a finish in the Alexander Stadium by Scottish athletes on a day when nine more visits were made to the podium.

Sarah beat Laura Muir to the finish line by just five hundredths and it wasn’t until the multiple medallist hauled her up off Birmingham’s blue track that she knew she had won gold.

‘I actually can’t believe it, I am still shocked. I came into this really wanting a medal,’ said Sarah.

‘I didn’t know until Laura came over to me to say well done.

‘I had a good run at the World University Games, but it is such a good field, so I didn’t know if I could get one. I had to have the mindset of forgetting who else was there, and pushing to see what I could do.’

Erin Wallace was fourth in that race and very close to a full Scottish clean sweep of the medals, but Revee Walcott-Nolan took the bronze. Beth Ansell placed 11th.

Neil stormed home over the closing stages of the home straight with the whole field having played cagey for so long.

He first won the British title in Birmingham in 2019 and it was the eighth time in nine years a Scot has won this title.

‘It feels good to take three in a row,’ said Neil, as Cameron Boyek came home in eighth place.

‘The British Champs is always fun but there is also so much to lose. The goal today was obviously top two and that was achieved. Elliott (Giles) apologised for the near miss at the finish line, I don’t think he realised how close we came but it is all good as we are both on that plane.

‘I am started to find my form in training; it would have been lovely to have Josh (Kerr) and the others in the race to test me a bit more, but you can only race who is there and I am happy with how that went.’

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Photo by Gary Mitchell

Laura has clinched selection for Tokyo and once again will represent GB and NI at a major champs.

‘The main aim today was to come top two.,’ said Laura, who clocked 4:16.32 as Sarah went 4:16.27.

‘It wasn’t necessarily the race or outcome we expected, but I’ve secured my spot three times in a row in second place, so it is all that you need to do.

‘I got myself a bit boxed which might have cost me the win, but at the same time, Sarah Calvert is running incredibly well. I am chuffed for her. Top two was like winning for me, so I am pleased.’