Great Britain’s Laura Muir said she is “more prepared than ever” after easing through the Tokyo 2020 1500m heats in her pursuit of a first Olympic medal.
Muir clocked four minutes 3.89 seconds to finish second. Six athletes from each heat progress to the semi-finals.
In a dramatic moment, world 1500m champion Sifan Hassan fell with 400m to go but won her heat in 4:05.17.
Great Britain’s Katie Snowden qualified sixth in her heat in 4:02.77 but Revee Walcott-Nolan came seventh to miss out.
Walcott-Nolan’s 4:06.23 was a PB but left her seventh in the list of fastest losers, with six going through. Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon – the Olympic champion – clocked the quickest time overall with 4:01.40.
Muir, though, is Great Britain’s major medal hope in the event and, having decided not compete in the 800m, her Tokyo campaign started with a routine heat as she came home behind Canada’s Gabriela Debues-Stafford.
“It’s really nice to get that first run out of the way and feel comfortable,” said Muir,…
