Kirsten McAslan will be a contender for Olympic gold by the Tokyo Games of 2020, world medallist Jenny Meadows has claimed, with the Scottish prospect tipped to realise her full potential when she moves up to 800 metres next year.
The 21-year-old, whose promise was identified when she was handed a relay berth at the world championships in 2013, landed her maiden British title over 400 metres at the UK Indoor Championships on Sunday after capitalising on a collision at the head of the field.
But Meadows, the favourite for European gold next month in Prague, insists McAslan's latest success is no mere fluke. And with her husband and coach Trevor Painter set to oversee the Bath University student's transition in the coming years, bigger achievements should be expected.
"From the word go, Trevor's always felt Kirsten is more of an 800 metres runner," Meadows declared. "And he's told her she has the ability to run 1:58. She might have a go at the 400 hurdles because she's really strong. If you look at the likes of Eilidh Child, Kirsten reminds me of her. But she's only 21. She's got a long time ahead of her. And she can look at being a European or Commonwealth medallist certainly - and from what I see of her, I'm sure she can also be a world and Olympic finalist. I'm sure she'll go to Prague in the relay team but I'd love her to get an individual shot."
McAslan has opted for patience in her progress until her degree is completed, postponing any radical diversion until she can re-join Meadows and Painter's Manchester-based training squad next year. That distance learning is not ideal, the Scot confirms, with her term-time regime governed by email and phone.
"She doesn't have the luxury of training at home and joining in with the group as much as she'd like," Meadows revealed. "And she also doesn't have an indoor track. But she's a really hard worker and very talented. If everything goes right for her, she can become a senior world-class athlete.
"I have so much faith in her programme, even though it's my husband. He really gets female and the 800 and 1500. I'll be involved for at least a couple more years but Trevor wants me around for longer to be Kirsten's training partner. Hopefully I can mentor her to great things."
Having lost her Lottery funding last winter, many had presumed Meadows was on a terminal decline. Not so, not after claiming her seventh UK indoor title at the age of 33 amid a campaign that has seen her dip under two minutes twice. A European crown is a realistic aim but also a moral one, having been denied at least three other major medals by those whose names now sit on the shame list of confirmed dope cheats.
"I believe we've got a chance of getting a level playing field," she said. "It's sad all these drugs allegations are coming out but long may it continue that the drugs cheats get found out. It makes hard-working athletes get their just rewards."
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