Laura Muir eyeing up Kelly Holmes' 1km record in Birmingham
BySportsbeat
Updated 17/08/2018 at 08:44 GMT
Laura Muir insists she is in good enough shape to become a record-breaker after being confirmed as one of 13 European medal-winning Brits for this weekend's Diamond League in Birmingham.
Sofia Ennaoui of Poland, silver, Laura Muir of Great Britain, gold, and Laura Weightman of Great Britain, bronze, pose with their medals for the Women's 1500 metres during day six of the 24th European Athletics Championships at Olympiastadion on August 1
Image credit: Getty Images
Muir made history at this year's European Championships as she became the first British female to win 1500m European outdoor gold.
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GB's Muir and Weightman take historic gold and bronze in 1500m
Now, the Scottish athlete has her eyes set on breaking Dame Kelly Holmes' 21-year-old 1000m British record of 2:32.55 in the Muller Grand Prix Birmingham this weekend.
The 25-year-old is optimistic, but aware of just how difficult breaking Holmes' record will be, particularly just a week after stepping on top of the European podium.
"You know that any record held by Dame Kelly Holmes is going to be a tough one to beat, but I feel in really good shape and am going to go after it with everything I've got," she said.
"First and foremost, I am looking to win the race but if I can break the British record in doing so that would be fantastic.
"It [1000m] is a distance I don't often run over, but I am looking forward to the challenge and just going out there and hopefully putting on a show for the home crowd.
"We British athletes are incredibly lucky to have such a great event straight on the back of a major championships – it gives us the opportunity to say thank you to the amazing British fans for all of their support through the European Championships.
I've had some great times in Birmingham – I remember that when I broke the British 1000m record indoors there last February the crowd were so loud that I couldn't hear my footsteps or sense where anyone else was in the race – it was crazy – so I'm sure it'll be much the same on Saturday at the Alexander Stadium.
Each of Britain's 13 individual medallists from Berlin have been confirmed to compete in Birmingham on Saturday.
Muir and Laura Weightman will be running alongside each other again in the women's 1500m after the two middle-distance runners won gold and bronze respectively at the European Championships.
European heptathlon silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson will also be present to continue her impressive 2018 season.
The 25-year-old is looking forward to returning to the city where she won her first-ever world title
"It's been a brilliant 2018; right from the outset, being crowned British Indoor Championship in February, world indoor champion in March, Commonwealth champion in April and now European silver medallist last week," she said.
"Now to come back to the city where the best year of my career so far started will be special.
"Hopefully I can sign off the season with a good performance and enjoy a great meet with the fans."
Shara Proctor, who still holds the record for the furthest jump in British history, will also be joining the British team at the Alexander Stadium.
Dina Asher-Smith returns to England as a world-record holder and will take on the women's 200m on Saturday following her remarkable achievements in Berlin, picking up three gold medals including becoming the first Brit in 56 years to win the 100m.
Meghan Beesley will be expecting a warm reception back in Birmingham after winning her beakthrough European bronze medal earlier this month, while Holly Bradshaw will represent Great Britain in the pole vault competition.
Several British male athletes will also be present at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham, with European champion Zharnel Hughes and silver medallist Reece Prescod featuring in the men's 100m alongside 200m silver medallist Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake.
Elsewhere, Matt Hudson-Smith will compete in the men's 400m after winning his first major title.
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GB's Hudson-Smith storms to 400m gold
And 5000m silver medallist Eilish McColgan will be competing in the 3000m, whilst Jake Wightman will be running the 800m.
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