Venue: Atakoy Arena, Istanbul Date: 2-5 MarchCoverage: BBC TV, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & appLaura Muir won a record fifth European Indoor Championship title as she claimed a dominant victory in the women’s 1500m final in Istanbul. Muir ra clear on the last lap to clock four minutes 03.40 seconds and become the most successful Briton in the history of the competition. Romania’s Claudia Bobocea was second in 4:03.76 and Poland’s Sofia Ennaoui completed the podium at Atakoy Arena. contest the men’s 60m final later. Muir moves ahead of former sprinters Colin Jackson and Jason Gardener as the British athlete with the most European indoor titles. Having completed doubles over 1500m and 3,000m in both her previous appearances in 2017 and ed the Scotel 2019 to focus on the shorter distance in Istanbul and lined up for the final as the clear favourite. The Olympic silver medalist lived up to that billing, starting at the back of the fiel d as Bobocea set a quick pace, then patiently working her way through before bursting clear on the final lap.”I didn’t really know what to expect and all my race plans went out the window when it went off that fast,” Muir told BBC Sport.”At the end of the day you have to be adaptable in the 1500m and it worked out in the end. I’m in a place now where I’m experienced and I can deal with different things. I’m just so happy.”Going into this championship I was quite nervous because I didn’t think I was at my absolute best, but I hoped with grit and determination I would still be able to come here and win. As you get older you appreciate these opportunities.”Team-mate Katie Snowden was unable to force her way onto the 1500m podium and placed fifth in 4:07.68, while Ellie Baker finished 11th. It has been an encouraging winter for Muir, who has recorded wins in the Wanamaker Mile in New York and World Indoor Tour Final over 1,000m in Birmingham as she aims to upgrade last summer’s world bronze in Budapest later this year. Muir’s success took GB’s medal tally in Istanbul to four following men’s 1500m silver for Neil Gourley and bronzes for Daryll Neita (60m) and Melissa Courtney-Bryant (3,000m) on reday. Hodgkinson eases to through in bid titleDefending champion Keely Hodgkinson left nothing to chance with a superb front-running performance to reach the 800m final. The Olympic and world silver medalist, who turned 21 on Friday, powered clear in her semi-final before easing off in the closing stages to in 2:00.05. However Issy Boffey was unable to join her British team-mate in the final as she fell out of contention in the latter stages of her semi. In the men’s event, Guy Learmonth, competing at his fifth European Indoors, qualified for the final after finishing fifth in his semi-final. British team captain Jazmin Sawyers will look to add to her European outdoor bronze in the long jump after needing just one leap to qualify for Sunday’s final.”I don’t normally get qua lification done in one jump, so it feels quite nice,” said Sawyers. “I should do that more often. I know I am in good shape. If I can open like that in round one, it is encouraging ahead of the final. “Jack Rowe and James West both safely reached the men’s 3,00m final, while David King advanced in the men’s 60m hurdles.
