Taking Stock: Diamond meet joy as Laura, Jemma both win in Sweden

Sunday 2nd June 2024

The Diamond League Bauhaus Gallen meeting in Sweden follows hard on the heels of the traditional Bislet Games in Oslo – and this time Scots were very much to the fore in Scandinavia.

Laura Muir won the Women’s 1500m at this meet for the third time in her career, and Jemma Reekie took a victory, as well.

Jake Wightman raced the men’s 800m but it did’t go at all as he would have liked and he came home in eighth place with a run of 1:45.35.

Laura came up with a scorching last lap to defeat all challengers in the Women’s 1500m.

The Scot, fourth in Eugene just over a week earlier, clocked 3:57.99 after breaking clear with a decisive move shortly before there were 200m remaining.

Nobody had an answer as Laura continues a strong start to the season – and that excellent record in the Stockholm Diamond League meet.

‘I am pleased to get my best season opener last week and then another solid performance tonight,’ said Laura.

‘I have to bear in mind we are only at the end of May, start of June and it is all about August this year. That is when I need to be at my best.

‘To be running what I am now and knowing that I have a couple more months of training before the Olympics is very exciting going forward.’

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Jemma Reekie had been impressive in taking third in Eugene in a fast race and she followed that up on her return to Europe.

A run of 1:57.79 was enough to take the victory and it was brilliant to see the Scot win the race by almost a second from her nearest challenger.

Now it is on to Rome for the Europeans where Jemma is taking part in the Women’s 1500m.

‘It was good to run a 1:57 from the front and know that I had another one in me,’ said Jemma.

‘It probably felt too comfortable so my coach (Jon Bigg) may watch it back and tell me I should have pushed it more. But it is a long season so there is plenty time for more.

‘I’ve started the season with consistent 1:57s and know that there is a bit more in there.’