Neil Gourley has his eyes on the prize of European Indoor gold in Istanbul next week. In form, and in command, the Glaswegian presents a compelling case. He completed the formalities of selection by claiming the 1500 metres title at the British Indoor Championships in Birmingham yesterday.
He was a cut above, as expected, after becoming the sixth-quickest miler in history in New York eight days earlier. Obscured of late in the lengthy shadow cast by world champion Jake Wightman and Olympic medallist Josh Kerr, he has found an additional gear this winter.
Faster and stronger, his time of 3:41.20 was of less import than the way he swept past George Mills on the final lap, a display of assurance that the good times will keep rolling, in Turkey and beyond.
“George’s operating in a really high level just now,” he said. “So I wasn’t taking it lightly by any sense. I knew I was going to need to be on top of things to win. But at the same time, if I’m looking to challenge Jakob Ingebrigtsen in two weeks, assuming he’s doing 1500m at Euros, then I need to be able to start winning these championships comfortably.”
Gourley will duel with Kerr at Saturday’s World Indoor Final back here. It will be a further useful benchmark of his progress. Like his rival, he met disappointment in 2022. Sixth at the world indoors was as good as it got. He chose to reset at his new base in the mountains of Arizona and it has paid rich dividends.
Erin Wallace missed the Euro qualifying standard by an agonising 0.22 seconds in landing bronze in the women’s event as victorious Ellie Baker broke Zola Budd’s championship record that had stood since 1986.
In the 800m, Guy Learmonth snared his fourth British indoor title in 1:47.43. With the standard for Istanbul already secured, the Borderer can plan his next month’s itinerary.
Turning 30 has coincided with a rebirth, he said, following a change in mindset – and fortune – that has brought him personal bests.
“From 2021 since the last European Indoors, I’ve had Covid three times and my lungs have been completely destroyed,” he said. “On the six weeks leading to the Commonwealth Games, I had a few other issues as well. And it’s been so rough.
“I went to Australia to train and came back completely refreshed. I just let go of everything from the past. I completely let go of everything that’s going on. And I came back so re-energised. I don’t know what went on there, but something changed in me.”
Jenny Selman was second to Isy Boffey in the women’s event but was over a second shy of the qualifying time of 2:02.20
Edinburgh AC’s Eloise Walker landed bronze in the 3,000m as Melissa Courtney maintained her rich vein of form, while Carys Macaulay was third in the 400m in a personal best of 52.98 secs.
Scottish No.1 Will Grimsey cleared 2.16m to win high jump gold but was short of the mark needed for the Euros.
Nikki Manson leapt 6.01m to come fifth in the long jump in her conversion to heptathlon as Jazmin Sawyers set out her stall for a tilt at a European medal with victory in 6.73m.
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