One of the highlights of the Muller Anniversary Games was Laura Muir’s attempt at the World Record Mile. It had been attempted on July 6 in Lausanne by Genzebe Dibaba and she had run 4:16.05. The record, from August 14, 1996, is by Svetlana Masterkova, who ran 4:12.56 after winning both the 800m and 1,500m in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Laura Muir followed Jenny Meadows, with Hellen Obiri right behind. They split 62.34 with Jenny Meadows leading at 400 meters and 2:07.27 at 800 meters, with Jenny Meadows leading through 900 meters. Laura Muir took the lead, with Hellen Obiri in hot pursuit.
Hellen Obiri, photo by PhotoRun.net
Hellen Obiri, 2016 Rio Olympic silver medalist, has run some brilliant races this year, with her 14:22.47 on May 13, then, a 4:00.46 1,500m on May 27 and a 14:18.37 for 5000 meters in Rome on June 6. Hellen Obiri is building for London 2017.
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Laura Muir was coming off a precautionary two week break due to a stress reaction (this is per her coach). Many media organizations noted that her World Champs might be in doubt. That was not correct. On July 6, Laura Muir ran a fine PB over 800 meters in the deepest 800 meters of the year, with her PB 1:58.69 in fifth place.
But the mile was hard, and perhaps a bit too fast early on. In the final lap, Laura Muir pushed, with Hellen Obiri inspired and Hellen went by in the last stretch, with Hellen Obiri running 4:16.56, MR and NR, with Laura Muir in second in 4:18.03.
The former meet record goes back to Mary Slaney, US star of the 1970s and 80s, who ran 4:19.56 at the London meeting on 2 August 1985 (on 24 August, Mary Slaney ran 4:16.71 in Zurich).
The mile was deep, with Winny Chebet (Kenya) in third in 4:19.55, Angelika Cichoka, (Poland), in 4:19.58 NR, and Jenny Simpson (USA), 4:19.98 PB and Laura Weightman (GBR), 4:20.05 PB. The mile was a huge PB fest!
Here is my attempt at Live coverage of the fine mile event!
Larry Eder has had a 51-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.
Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
Larry Eder has had a 51-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.
Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
byLarry Eder
Laura Muir, photo by PhotoRun.net
Hellen Obiri, photo by PhotoRun.net
