It might not be of a Liz McColgan-Yvonne Murray vintage, but Scottish athletics could soon have the makings of a middle distance rivalry to savour.
Within an hour of Lynsey Sharp belatedly collecting her European Indoor Championship 800m gold medal at the Emirates Arena off the track, Kinross-shire’s Laura Muir was being applauded by the 5,000 home supporters as the winner over the same distance on it.
Sharp, who has just returned from a South African training camp, wasn’t competing on the day, so the capacity crowd didn’t get treated to a head-to-head at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow International Match.
But it’s just a matter of time before the two come up against each other somewhere. And, it could even end up being a domestic battle at Hampden in the Commonwealth Games.
Sharp is a certainty to be selected for the 800, while Dundee Hawkhill Harrier Muir has already been named in the 1,500m, her preferred distance.
Milnathort’s Muir hasn’t ruled out doubling up, and performances like Saturday’s, which was a new Scottish indoor record by more than a second, will make it a real possibility.
The veterinary student certainly isn’t daunted by the potential of a Caledonian rivalry.
She said: “I don’t mind if I’m going up against a Scot, an American or whoever. The race will be the same for me. Everybody is competition, wherever they are from. It is nice to have a friendly face when you’re on the starting line though, and before the race to have someone to chat to.
“Our PBs are quite similar. She’s focusing mainly on the 800 whereas I’m not quite set on it yet. 1,500 would probably be my better event but I’m not sure.”
Muir added: “It would be great for the Scottish crowd at Hampden. They wouldn’t know who to cheer for. It just shows the strength that we have that there could be more than one competitor in an event.
“Knowing that you’re not guaranteed to be the fastest person in Scotland definitely pushes you on. That competition to spur you on is fantastic.
“It’s great that there is depth in Scottish athletics in general, with the likes of Eilidh (Child), Lynsey, Eilish (McColgan) and Chris (O’Hare).”
Had the 1,500m come first in the Glasgow schedule in July it might have made up her mind not to take on both. But it is the other way round, Muir revealed, making the temptation greater.
“The scheduling would work,” she pointed out.
“1,500 is my main event and it’s first. It’s Monday, Tuesday and the 800 is Thursday, Friday.
“I am still only 20 though. It would be four tough races in five days. I’ll evaluate it closer to the time.”
Muir finished the race in a fraction over two minutes (2:00.94), timing her run perfectly to move past American Chanelle Price with about 150m to go.
She wasn’t surprised that she ran so well in her first race of the season.
The event organisers were certainly impressed because Muir’s run was voted performance of the day.
It was a teary-eyed afternoon for Sharp, as the presentation of her European gold was made by her father, and former Commonwealth champion, Cameron Sharp.
She said: “It was the end of such an emotional journey and I’m glad it’s come to an end now and I can move forward.”