Kinross-shire athlete Laura Muir believes next month’s World Indoor Championship will provide the perfect preparation for the summer’s Commonwealth Games.
The Dundee Hawkhill Harrier has enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, and is ranked world No 1 in the 800m.
At just 20, though, she is inexperienced as far as major events are concerned, and carrying the favourite’s tag at Sopot will be a step into the unknown.
The pressure of a World Indoors even with expectation of a medal will be nothing compared to a home Commonwealth Games in July. So Muir intends to soak up as much as she can from a big competition.
“I think it will be a big help,” she pointed out.
“One of the reasons I wanted to do the Worlds was to give me more racing experience, maybe in a bit of a high-pressure situation as well. I have not really been at the forefront of a lot of attention before.
“I have not had that much experience in front of a big crowd. So I think it will be good practice for my preparations for the games in the summer.”
Veterinary student Muir has revealed that she is feeling the benefit of a lighter workload at Strathclyde University.
She said: “First and second year I did my studies full-time with my running, which was pretty tough and full on. But I’m doing third year part-time over two years now, which is great. It is still a lot of work, but more relaxed.
“It’s given me more time for my preparation, training, recovery from races, travelling it’s made a big difference. I am a lot less stressed than I was. I think it’s a really good balance.”
Meanwhile, scottishathletics director of coaching, Stephen Maguire is delighted to have an unprecedented Scottish representation in Poland, where Muir will be joined by Eilidh Child (4x400m), Eilish McColgan (3,000m), Jamie Bowie (4x400m) and Chris O’Hare (1,500m).
“It is good news to have five selected for a World Indoors,” he said.
“I believe it has not happened before. Indoors is good for a coach to assess what stage their athlete is at.
“Some will prioritise it some won’t. Eilidh will focus on the relay this time and that’s great. She missed a bit of training so she needs to get back into that and then run the relay and hopefully help lead GB to a medal.
“Eilish is an interesting one. She has not competed indoors this season and has been selected on strong outdoor times last season.
“If you look at her, she has the talent to mix it at the World Indoors and I don’t think, with her coach, she would have made the decision to be there if she wasn’t.
“For the profile of the sport in Scotland it is good. I see and hear people talking about Laura Muir and Chris O’Hare and rightly so they deserve the coverage. They have delivered when it matters. Your profile does not rise by accident.
“Laura has run and won in Glasgow, Sheffield and then Birmingham. The manner she has won is impressive.
“I think that can inspire both youngsters at our clubs and even some of our Scotland internationals who haven’t quite made it at GB level.
“Our athletes in Poland are, in a sense, in a shop window on athletics in Scotland.”