Faith Kipyegon breaks women’s 1500m world record as Laura Muir comes second in Florence

Laura Muir saw the silver lining in coming runner-up to Faith Kipyegon in the women’s 1500 metres final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

And the Scottish star could only toast her great rival once more in Florence on Friday night as the Kenyan slashed over a second off the world record with a quite incredible closing burst.

Muir, 30, was gamely giving chase when the bell sounded at the Diamond League meeting but Kipyegon had tucked something special up her sleeve.

The mother-of-one’s cushion grew and grew and the neon lights on the track side that mapped out history suddenly fell adrift of her heels.

And she sprinted resolutely down the home straight to clock 3 mins 49.11 secs and obliterate Genzebe Dibaba’s existing mark.

Scottish star Laura Muir ran a season’s best of 3:57.09 in finishing second on Friday night

‘I’ve been in three world record races now,’ Muir underlined. ‘I was there in 2015 when Genzebe Dibaba broke it and then indoors when Gudaf Tsegay took it. I seem to be the world record lucky charm. I’m so happy for Faith. That was hers to get. She’s done everything else. She’s the best there’s ever been. It was her turn.’

Muir, in her summer opener, held onto second in 3:57.09. This was the European champion’s first outing since splitting from her long-time coach Andy Young, a positive re-start ahead of a 5000m in Paris next Friday.

‘I know I’m in good shape and I wanted to go with it and give it a shot,’ she said. ‘But I’m not quite in 3:49 shape in my first race of the season. But it’s a good place to start.’

All that Dina Asher-Smith could offer last night were tears, but not a sprint. Britain’s sprinting star was grounded by cramp ahead of the women’s 100m, her calf seizing and her spirit sagging as she was forced to pull out as her rivals lined up.

Instead, Marie Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast claimed victory in 10.97 seconds with Asher-Smith’s domestic foe Imani Lansiquot third in 11.16.

Maddening, annoying, other emotions not fit to print. A mere blip, the UK record holder trusts, as she gears to regain her world 200m title later this summer in Budapest.

‘I’m really frustrated because I feel really good,’ Asher-Smith, 27, said. “I just am not going to risk it. It’s annoying because I carry a little cramp fix in my bag and I didn’t have it today. It’s at the hotel. I was weighing it up in my head but I thought if I’m not good, it’s not worth it.

‘All eyes are on August. Cramps are fine but if you run on them, they’re dangerous and I’m not doing that in June. I pushed off coming out and I felt it. But I’m in a really good place which is why it’s annoying. I’m going fast and I honestly expected to run well. But I’ll head to Paris to do the 200 next week and come back from it.’

With its governing body staring down the barrel of bankruptcy, it simply can’t afford to lose the sheen brought by its handful of A-Listers with the Paris 2024 Olympics just 14 months away.

£1.8 million in losses for UK Athletics last year have led to job losses and the shuttering of its head office in Birmingham. Own goals have come thick and fast. 

Sprinting star Dina Asher-Smith was grounded by cramp ahead of the women’s 100m

Next month’s British Championships will be staged at the homely Trafford Arena rather at the redeveloped Alexander Stadium in Birmingham because it is understood that UKA bosses failed to nail down a date in time to avoid the Commonwealth Games hub being booked out for rugby league.

But Asher-Smith claims the country’s Olympic hopefuls cannot be distracted by the gloom off the track.

‘It might be selfish but for my own performance, I’m focusing on me,’ she said. ‘But there are some exciting things going on. I think it will be fine. London Diamond League will be amazing.’

Elsewhere, world champion Fred Kerley of the USA powered to victory in the men’s 100m in 9.94 secs.