MX23RW : Friday, December 13 18:53:45| >> :600:88864:88864:

Laura Muir wins 1500m bronze at World Athletics Championships

Laura Muir wins 1500m bronze at World Athletics Championships
© Reuters
Laura Muir wins Great Britain's first medal of the 2022 World Athletics Championships with bronze in the 1500m, as Katarina Johnson-Thompson loses her heptathlon title.

Laura Muir won Great Britain's first medal of the 2022 World Athletics Championships with a hard-fought bronze in the women's 1500m on Monday.

The Tokyo 2020 silver medallist was without a World Championship medal heading to Eugene but crossed the line with a season's best of 3:55.28 to get onto the podium.

The trio of Muir, Gudaf Tsegay and Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon broke away from the rest of the pack with about 600m to go, and the latter would take the gold medal with a remarkable time of 3:52.96. Tsegay (3:54.52) placed second in a highly entertaining and rapid race.

"Running around there with Faith, we had no crowds at Tokyo last year so I thought 'We are doing this lap of honour!', Muir told BBC Sport after clinching her first World Championship medal.

"We had so many lovely people out there wanting to say hi so we just wanted to say thanks to everybody. I knew Gudef would go out fast but I didn't look at the clock, I'm not looking because it's not going to be good!

"I'm not surprised it was that fast, but that's the World Championship final. You've got to expect it to be hard and be quick but that was an extra level. That's what I wanted, this world medal. Fifth time trying!

"After I got the Olympic silver I was like 'this is the year, I am going to get it' and I have. I am so pleased. This was the one that was really bugging me."

Katarina Johnson-Thompson in action at the World Athletics Championships on July 18, 2022© Reuters

Meanwhile, 2019 heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson ceded her title to Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium and could only place eighth in the event in Oregon.

Johnson-Thompson was sixth after four events heading into Monday's session, although she managed to top her long jump group with a distance of 6.28m.

The 29-year-old proceeded to hit the 39.18m mark in the javelin and was eighth heading into the 800m, where she posted a time of 2:19.16 to finish on 6222 points.

Thiam could only finish fifth in the 800m but stormed to the title with 6947 points, as Anouk Vetter (6867) and Anna Hall (6755) placed second and third respectively.

There was further disappointment for Adam Gemili, who finished fourth in his 200m heat and failed to make the semi-finals, but Joe Ferguson and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake both qualified.

Off the back of finishing fourth in the 100m final, Dina Asher-Smith placed second in her 200m heat with a time of 22.56 to progress to the semis, but Beth Dobbin (23.04) bowed out.

Elsewhere, Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim won his third consecutive men's high jump world title after clearing the 2.37m mark, while the women's triple jump title went to reigning world and Olympic champion Yulimar Rojas with a world-leading 15.47m mark.

ID:490436:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5497:
Written by
Ben Knapton

Click here for more stories about Laura Muir

Click here for more stories about Great Britain

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Fred Kerley celebrates winning the 100 m at the World Athletics Championships on July 17, 2022
Read Next:
Fred Kerley wins 100 m title in USA World Championships clean sweep
>