Laura Muir breaks Dame Kelly Holmes' record, women's 4x100m relay team outclass opponents
BySportsbeat
Updated 22/07/2016 at 22:30 GMT
The world of athletics should watch out according to new British record holder Laura Muir after she sprinted to 1500m victory on the first day of the Anniversary Games in London.
Britain's Laura Muir reacts to winning the women's 1500m in a new British record time at the IAAF Diamond League Anniversary Games athletics meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park stadium in Stratford, east London on July 22, 2016.
Image credit: AFP
Muir, who will make her Olympic debut next month, dominated the race from the off to set a new national record of 3:57.49, breaking that previously held by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes.
Rio-bound team-mate Laura Weightman set a new season best to finish in fourth, and for Scot Weir, winning on home soil made victory that extra bit sweeter.
"I'm in really good shape and the pace was good," she said. "The third lap I just had to keep working hard to make sure I brought it home.
"The crowd were amazing, I just can't believe it's over and done with already!
"Breaking the British record blows my mind a bit. I haven't run a fast 1500m this year so I wanted to go out there and show the world what I can do, I think the performance shows what I'm capable of.
"My last race wasn't a great one but you can't get much better than tonight."
Muir wasn't the only one to set a new British record at the capital's Olympic Stadium, with the event also doubling up as the London leg of the Diamond League, as the women's 4x100m relay team outclassed their opponents.
The quartet of Dina Asher-Smith, Asha Philip, Desiree Henry and Daryll Neita sealed a new world lead time of 41.81 to lay their marker ahead of competing in Rio next month.
Philip said: "My aim was just to catch the person in front of me and give Desiree a good lead.
"Even though it was Dina's first go on the third leg, we knew she runs a good bend so we knew she would kill it, and I knew Daryll was going to keep it on that last leg.
"It was perfect what we did today, we are proud of ourselves and we are really confident now heading into Rio."
Elsewhere, Adam Gemili placed third behind six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt in the 200m final to set a new season best ahead of his second Games.
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Jamaica's Usain Bolt crosses the line to win the Men's 200m
Image credit: Reuters
The 22-year-old crossed the line in 20.07, just 0.18 seconds behind Bolt, and was thrilled to compete in front of a home crowd before heading to Brazil.
"It's a good indicator of where I am at the moment," he said. "What better way than to run in front of a packed Olympic Stadium, it is a great feeling.
"I have more work to do and hopefully I can get myself into that final in Rio."
Elsewhere, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Morgan Lake set new personal and season bests respectively in the women's high jump, while Christine Ohuruogu bagged a 400m season best time, crossing the line in an emphatic 51.05.
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Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson competes in the women's High Jump at the IAAF Diamond League Anniversary Games athletics meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park stadium in Stratford, east London on July 22, 2016.
Image credit: AFP
It was a season best too for Tiffany Porter in the 100m hurdles, finishing 0.34 seconds ahead of Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill, setting the duo up for a summer of success in Rio.
And Richard Kilty and Chijindu Ujah stopped the clock in unison as they crossed the line together in 10.16 in the men's 100m.
Tomorrow's Muller Anniversary Games action will see reigning Olympic champion Mo Farah take to the track where he won 5000m gold four years ago, while Ennis-Hill and Johnson-Thompson will compete in the long jump alongside Shara Proctor.
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