Laura Muir’s 1500m dreams shattered as she finishes an agonising fourth while Caster Semenya grabs bronze
British hope gave everything in pursuit of glory but saw a medal snatched away from her in the final few strides
LAURA MUIR saw her world 1500m dreams shattered as she was run out of the medals in the World Championships final.
The British poster girl for London 2017 gave everything she had in an effort to claim gold but in the end she just lacked the strength needed to secure a place on the podium.
In one of the most the most stacked competitions in the whole of the Championships, Muir was just denied a medal despite a gutsy effort that had the London Stadium crowd on the edge of their seats.
The 24-year-old was still in with a shout of gold as she came off the final bend just two yards behind Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon and pre-race favourite Sifan Hassan battling it out at the front.
Kenyan star Kipyegan held out for victory but Muir sensed a medal as she gradually caught up then overtook the fading Hassan.
But from nowhere American Jenny Simpson stormed up the inside to take the silver and right at the last Caster Semenya scrambled up to snatch bronze.
In the end Muir missed out on third by seven hundredths of a second to South African Semanya - as the first four finishers were separated by just 0.31seconds.
Hassan eventually finished fifth, with Britain's Laura Weightman rewarded for a strong home straight with a sixth-place finish.
Muir said: "It's fourth. I gave it everything I could. I tied up in the last 15 yards. I gave it everything, considering the disruption I've had this year.
"I knew it was close. It happened so late in the race. I couldn't react, but I wouldn't have been able to because I was so tired.
"I executed the race plan like I wanted to do. I was really happy how I ran the race.
"I'm making steps. I was fifth at the last Worlds and fourth this time - hopefully I'll make another step.
"I'm pretty sure the 5,000m is still on the cards this week. I'm inexperienced in the 5k so I don't know if I'll get a medal. I'll see how I feel after today."
British team-mate Weightman added: "I just wanted to prove I can mix it with the world's best but I'm also still disappointed. I was a bit boxed in.
"To finish sixth, I think it's given me huge relief, to think I can be quicker and be more competitive in these races."
