Neil Gourley he was in record form at the World Indoor Tour final in Birmingham
The Scotsman, who won the British indoor title at the same Utilita Arena last weekend, toppled the men’s British 1500m indoor record with a rather impressive performance.
The win also gave Neil the World Indoor Tour title, on a day Laura Muir won her 1000m race.
With so many world-class performances on the day, Gourley’s victory – the first of the day for a British athlete in a World Indoor Tour event – was just right as he waited patiently in the men’s 1500m before taking the final lap of the clock. that British record of 3:32.48.
Josh Kerr, the pre-race British record holder led but faded after the bell as Gourley picked up the pace and came home for the second fastest time this year and could hardly have had a better preparation for next year’s European Indoor Championships week.
Gourley’s surge helped Aof the Mechaal to a Spanish record 3:33.28 in second while Kerr was fifth in 3:34.93.
“That race was something else, I knew it was going to be fast, it was just a matter of hanging in there and using my pace in the last 150m and luckily I managed to do it,” said Neil.
‘This track is fast; the surface is fast. The race has prepared me very well for next week. I hope it will be a race similar to this one, it will be a matter of seeing if I have the wheels at the end of the race to take the gold.
“I knew I could run a time like this, but it was all about being able to run it, and I’m glad I finally got to do it.”
Photo by British Athletics/Getty Images
Muir followed Gourley’s example and Dina Asher-Smith by claiming victory against international opposition by handily winning the women’s 1000m.
She attacked the race in search of the world record, but was unable to get close to him as she clocked 2:34.53.
“I was going to try it, and I think when you run at that pace it’s going to hit at some point and that’s what point it’s going to hit,” Laura said.
“Unfortunately, it came too early, but I had to try and I had to run those times at the beginning.”
‘I know I’m in a good place (ahead of the European Indoors), it’s hard to be perfect. I gave him a good chance and I feel strong in training. It has to be the gold. It’s the only color medal I’ve ever won there, so I want to keep that record.”
Will Grimsey he was eighth in the high jump with 2.14m,
For full results from the Birmingham World Indoor Tour final, follow this link
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