GB Star Laura Muir Smashes Track Record In Cardiff Visit

By Owen Morgan

British middle distance star Laura Muir paid a surprise flying visit to Cardiff on Sunday afternoon and came away with a World Indoor Athletics Championship qualifying time.

The Tokyo Olympics 1500m silver medallist was competing as a guest in the Welsh 3,000m championship race at the Cardiff Metropolitan University Christmas Classic meeting.

A delighted crowd at the Cardiff National Indoor Athletics Centre cheered the double European 1500m champion to a track and meeting record of 8:34.39 – the fourth fastest time ever by a British woman. Only Muir herself and five-time Olympian Jo Pavey have run faster.

In a high-class race, Georgia Bell, of Shaftsbury Barnet Harriers was second in 8:49.63.

Rising under-20 star Innes Fitzgerald, of Exeter Harriers, was third in 9:06.26 – just a week after winning the under-20 title at the European Cross Country Championships.