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

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

And the Scottish star had only one more toast to her great rival in Florence on Friday night, when the Kenyan cut more than a second off the world record with an incredible final burst.

Muir, 30, bravely gave chase when the bell rang at the Diamond League meeting, but Kipyegon had something special up her sleeve.

The mother-of-one’s kisses grew and grew and the runway side neon lights charting history suddenly fell adrift from her heels.

And she resolutely sprinted through the house, straight ahead to clock 3 minutes and 49.11 seconds and obliterate Genzebe Dibaba’s existing mark.

Scottish star Laura Muir ran a season best of 3:57.09 on Friday night to finish second

“I’ve now run three world record races,” 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 am 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 held onto second place in her summer opener in 3:57.09. This was the European champion’s first appearance since separating from her old coach Andy Young, a positive restart ahead of the 5000 meters in Paris next Friday.

“I know I’m in good shape and I wanted to go for it and try it,” she said. “But I’m not quite in 3:49 form in my first race of the season. But it’s a good place to start.”

All Dina had to offer Asher-Smith last night was tears, but no sprint. Running ahead of the women’s 100m with a ground cramp, the Britain sprinter took hold of her calf and her mind sank as she was forced to withdraw 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 suitable for printing. According to the British record holder, it is just an outlier as she prepares to regain her world title in the 200 meters in Budapest later this summer.

“I’m really frustrated because I feel really good,” Asher-Smith, 27, said. “I’m just not going to risk it. It’s annoying because I have a little antispasmodic in my bag and didn’t have it today. It’s at the hotel. I was weighing it in my head but I thought if I didn’t get it right am, 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 when I came out and I felt it. But I’m in a good place and that’s why it’s annoying. I’m going fast and I honestly expected to run well. But next week I’m going to Paris to do the 200 and I’ll be back.’

With its governing body staring into bankruptcy, it just can’t afford to lose the luster of its handful of A-Listers with the 2024 Paris Olympics just 14 months away.

£1.8 million in losses to UK Athletics last year led to job cuts and the closure of its Birmingham headquarters. Own goals have come thick and fast.

Sprint star Dina Asher-Smith grounded in women’s 100m due to cramp

Next month’s UK Championships will be held at the homely Trafford Arena rather than the redeveloped Alexander Stadium in Birmingham as it is clear UKA bosses failed to set a date in time to prevent the Commonwealth Games hub would be fully booked for rugby league.

But Asher-Smith argues the country’s Olympic hopefuls can’t be distracted by the gloom off the track.

“It may be selfish, but for my own performance I focus on myself,” she said. “But there are exciting things going on. I think it will be fine. The London Diamond League is going to be great.”

Elsewhere, world champion Fred Kerley of the US rode to victory in the men’s 100 meters in 9.94 seconds.