Neil Gourley was in Record-breaking form at the World Indoor Tour final in Birmingham
The Scot, who won the British Indoor title at the same Utilita Arena last weekend, took down the British Record for Men’s 1500m Indoors with a quite stunning performance.
Victory gave Neil the World Indoor Tour title, too, on a day when Laura Muir won her 1000m race.
With so many world-class performances on the day, Gourley’s win – the first of the day for a British athlete in a World Indoor Tour event – was right up there as he waited patiently in the men’s 1500m before powering around the final lap to clock that British record of 3:32.48.
Josh Kerr, the British record holder before the race, led it out but faded after the bell as Gourley upped the pace and stormed home for the second fastest time this year and could hardly have had any better preparation for next week’s European Indoor Championships.
Gourley’s surge helped Adel Mechaal to a Spanish record of 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 quick, it was a case of hanging on and using my pace in the last 150m and thankfully I managed to do that,’ said Neil.
‘This track is quick; the surface is quick. The race has set me up nicely for next week. I’m expecting it to be a similar race to this, it will be a case 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 execute it, and I’m glad I have finally been able to do that.’
Photo by British Athletics/Getty Images
Muir followed the lead of Gourley and Dina Asher-Smith in claiming victory against international opposition as she comfortably won the women’s 1000m.
She attacked the race in pursuit of the world record but couldn’t quite come close to it as she posted 2:34.53.
‘I was going to go for it, and I think when you are running at that pace it’s going to hit at some point and it’s at what point it’s going to hit,’ said Laura.
‘Unfortunately, it hit a bit too soon, but I had to go for it, and I had to run those times at the start.
‘I know I’m in a good spot [ahead of European Indoors], it’s hard to get that perfect. I gave it a good shot and I’m feeling strong in training. It’s got to be the gold. It’s the only colour medal…
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