by Stuart Weir
This was always going to be a huge event. Laura Muir wanted to race at home, so loyal that she went to Scotland. Elle St. Pierre told RunBlogRun on February 3 that she hoped to improve her medal in the 3,000m from Belgrade. Stuart Weir tells the story well!
This is his first story for day 2 of the World Champs.
Women’s 3000m
The women’s 3000m would always be one of the stand-out races in the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow. That Laura Muir from Scotland – who lives in Glasgow – was in the field added spice to the occasion as the locals dreamed of a home victory. To be honest it was always at best a long shot as Laura was taking on a stellar field in a distance that was not her strongest. Her fifth place was probably as good as one could have expected of her, and in truth, she was never challenged for a medal. The result was
1 Elle St Pierre (USA) 8:20.87
2 Gudah Tsegay (Ethiopia) 8:21.13
3 Beatrice Chepkoech (Kenya) 8:22.68
4 Jessica Hull (Australia) 8:24.39
5 Laura Muir (GB, OK Scotland) 8:29.76
Tsegay was probably the favorite – the current world 5000m World Record holder. There was Beatrice Chepkoech, a former world record holder at the 3000 steeplechase. St Pierre ran a simply brilliant tactical race, taking the lead only right at the end.
St Pierre, who gave birth to a son just a year ago, said, “This is amazing. It’s all I ever dreamed of. It’s been a big year for me. It’s really emotional to think of, but a year ago, my son was born to be here as a world champion; I can’t imagine it. I feel like a new person, a new athlete. I can’t wait to see him after this. It’s fascinating to break the championship record. I did worry the pace was too high in the middle, but after that, I decided not to overthink it and just go for it. I didn’t know I had the gold till the finish, the last 10 meters”.
Tsegay said, “I am not happy with this result, but I accept what I achieved. I was expecting a gold medal today. This season has been good so far, and I am competing at the world championships, so the next target for me is the Olympics because I want to get an Olympic medal and show something big in Paris. Everything happens in this sport, so I accept tonight’s result and will do better next time”.
Chepkeoch set a new Kenyan record but had to settle for third.
Laura Muir’s view of her evening was: “It was tough. It’s been six years since I ran the 3K at this caliber. I knew I couldn’t go out too hard from the start. I just can’t run races like that. So I had to ease off a little bit and pick people off. Unfortunately, I was that bit further back. Not quite with that front pack, but I know it’s had its own thing. Coming fifth at a world championship in what’s not my main event, so I can’t be disheartened with that”.
Of course, 3k is not an outdoor championship distance, and one can only speculate about what pointers it gives us to the Olympic 1500 and 5000m
Stuart Weir is recovering from surgery and is covering the event remotely.
