by Stuart Weir
Jemma Reekie and Laura Muir at Trieste, 1 August 2020, Photo Credit Laura Muir Twitter
Jemma Reekie has had an exciting 2020. And to top it off, Jemma beat her new housemate, Laura Muir, once again!
All athletes have been frustrated at the way Covid 19 has completely disrupted the 2020 season. Jemma Reekie have more reason to be frustrated than most as she was in the form of her life in February this year.
Jemma Reekie sets NR at 800m indoors, 1:57.91, Photo Credit Laura Muir Twitter
In her first race of the season at a low key meet in Glasgow she ran 1:57.91, leaving Laura Muir in her wake. A week later she came third in the New York Millrose games mile clocking 4:17.88 (1500m in 4:00.56). Before the month was over she had won a 1500m in the Glasgow Müller Grand Prix and an 800m in Lievin, both part of the World Athletics Indoor Tour. Suddenly she had set himself up as a potential medallist at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing – before the curtain came down on the indoor season if not on the whole year.
Jemma Reekie (in back), battles in Millrose Mile, photo by Cortney White
Jemma Reekie, Lieven, photo credit: Meeting de Lieven
In the Müller Indoor Grand Prix in Glasgow, she won the 1500m, against a field which included Dawit Seyaum and Axumawit Embaye of Ethiopia as well as the Moroccan, Rababe Arafi in 4:04.07. In Lievin 800m she was facing Halimah Nakaayi, the 2019 World Champion and six other sub 2 minute runners. Reekie won the race. The time was slow by her standards but this was a race and she won it. She controlled the race and won comfortably. She tucked in behind the two pacemakers and then held off Nakaayi to win by 1.6 seconds.
Jemma Reekie takes Dawit Seyaum, Glasgow, photo by British Athletics/ Getty Images
After a period training in Glasgow with coach, Andy Young and Laura Muir, there was a training camp in July at Font Romeu in the Pyrenees. On Saturday (1 August) in Trieste she had her first race since mid-February and of course she won it – an 800m in 1:59.52, beating the Laura Muir and Selina Büchel (twice European indoor champion). The frustration for Reekie is that the remainder of the year will include only a few races and of course no Olympics.
Jemma Reekie and Laura Muir at Trieste, 1 August 2020, Photo Credit Laura Muir Twitter
