Stewart McSweyn became the first Australian to win the historic Emsley Carr Mile as a sizeable crowd flocked to the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham for the Müller Grand Prix on Saturday (August 18).

As is tradition for the winner of the one-mile showpiece – an annual invitational race that has been held in the United Kingdom since 1953 – McSweyn had the honour of signing a page of a leather-bound book featuring the signatures of every single winner of the race and was presented with a glass trophy.

To add to his achievement, McSweyn had also ran a personal best of 3:54.60 on his way to the win and it was only the second mile race he has ever run.

“It is only the second mile I have ever officially done, I have never raced here before so it was going to be a good experience no matter what,” he said afterwards. “But to perform well and get a PB I am pretty happy with that.

“The track was crazy good, I like it because the crowd sounds really close. When you are running in lane one, it sounds as they are in lane three or four, right on you. I definitely want to do it again if I can.”

McSweyn’s countryman Ryan Gregson ran a seasons best time to come second in what was a fantastic day for Australian athletes.

Stewart McSweyn runs 3:54.60 to lead an Australia 1-2 in the men's mile. Ryan Gregson takes second in 3:55.10 #BirminghamDL pic.twitter.com/lv7LtVeJwc

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) August 18, 2018

The first British athlete was Charlie Da’Vall Grice who finished seventh in 3:56.97, followed closely by Neil Gourley in 3:57.11 for eighth, while Chris O’Hare crossed the line in 12th in a time of 3:59.70.

Laura Muir came agonisingly close to breaking Kelly Holmes’ British record and meeting record in the 1000m. Muir stopped the clock at 2:33.92 for the win – only 1.1 seconds slower than Holmes’ time set 23 years ago.

Muir said: “I’m happy with that despite the fact it was really windy, I just tried to give it my best shot but when I saw I was off the pace I knew it became about trying to just win the race and I did that.

“It was great to have a medal indoors and even better to add an outdoor one. The Europeans was always the big target and to deliver was really good and I’m happy with the season.”

France’s Renelle Lamote finished second, while 800m specialist Adelle Tracey was third and Katie Snowden and fourth.

Sifan Hassan demonstrated the versatility that makes her so difficult to beat by successfully stepping down to the 1500m so soon after her gold-medal-winning performance in the 5000m at the Europeans.

Hassan gave off a strong aura of superiority as she let the 2016 world indoor bronze medallist Gudaf Tsegay do most of the work for her before speeding past her as they entered the home straight and taking the victory in 4:00.60.

GB’s Sarah McDonald’s finished strongly to clinch fifth in a personal best 4:03.17.

Assisted by Benjamin Kigen stumbling over the water jump at a crucial point during the last lap, Conseslus Kipruto took full advantage of his teammate’s misfortune, albeit reluctantly, as the African Champion eased to a winning time of 8:14.33 in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, while GB’s Zak Seddon finished 14th in 8:41.36 and Ieuan Thomas 15th in a time of 8:51.01.

There were two consecutive wins on the track for Kenyan athletes, as a comfortable win for Agnes Jebet Tirop in the women’s 3000m followed. She was the first of a trio of Kenyans to cross the line; finishing ahead of both Lilian Kasait Rengeruk and Hellen Obiri in a time of 8:32.21.

Eilish McColgan crossed the line in fourth place clocking a time of 8:38.49, while finishing fifth was Melissa Courtney in a Welsh record 8:39.20. Steph Twell complete the GB athletes in 11th running a time of 8:46.79.

Emmanuel Korir set a meeting record in the men’s 800m. In June, Korir became the third man ever to run sub-1:44 for 800m and sub-45 for 400m, and his short sprint speed proved more than useful in the closing stages of the race as he sped to a time of 1:42.79.

Christian Coleman beats Reece Prescod in exciting 100m

Reece Prescod gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about in the men’s 100m – the last race of the day – as he showcased incredible acceleration to almost nullify Christian Coleman’s outstanding start.

After a photo finish, the spoils went to the world indoor champion Coleman and the time of 9.94 awarded to both of the athletes was a seasons best for the American and a personal best for Prescod, despite the slight headwind working against them.

Coleman said: “I felt pretty good. It was a sigh of relief because you never know what to expect when you come back from injury and I got my rhythm back and I came out with the win in a good time.

“I was looking forward to competing and the win is the icing on the cake. It’s been a test for me to continually prove myself but I’ll use this as a learning experience, now it’s about winning the Diamond League finals.”

Two explosive sprint races stacked with world-class talent provided a fitting conclusion to the afternoon, especially because Bahamian speed merchant and the world bronze medallist, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, ran an electric 22.15 that was the fourth meeting record of the day to fend off European triple gold medallist and home favourite, Dina Asher-Smith, in the dying moments of the women’s 200m.

Asher-Smith said: “I’m tired, but I am happy I was able to come out and perform in such a stacked field, full of girls who apart from me and Dafne [Schippers] have been resting up.

“It is really nice to perform well in their company and in front of a home crowd. It’s been a hectic week since Berlin so I am just looking forward to relaxing at home for a week or so before the next race in Zurich.”

One of the closest races of the day was the men’s 400m. Olympic triple jump champion Christian Taylor emerged as a surprise leader as the athletes entered the home straight before being eclipsed by the stampede of European gold medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith, Fred Kerley and Paul Dedewo.

Hudson-Smith, who grew up not too far from the Alexander Stadium, was roared on by the crowd but Kerley had the strength to beat him by mere hundredths in a time of 45.54.

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Britain’s European golden stars Laura Muir, Dina Asher-Smith, Zharnel Hughes and Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be joined by international stars Noah Lyles and Sandi Morris at the Müller Birmingham Grand Prix on Saturday (August 18).

Laura Muir is aiming to make further history in the Alexander Stadium following her historic 1500m European gold last Sunday as she attacks Kelly Holmes’ British 1000m record 2:32.55.

“I was really happy breaking the indoor record at the Birmingham Grand Prix last indoor season which was great,” said Muir. “But I find indoors with the 200m track it is psychologically quite easy – five 200m laps – outdoors it is not something I have done much, but in Berlin I ran the last kilometre hard there, which wasn’t intentional, but I guess in a way that is quite good prep for this.

“As long as the conditions are good tomorrow, I feel like I am on target to go for it tomorrow.”

Dina Asher-Smith will return to action on home soil after a whirlwind 11 days which has seen the 22-year-old win three European gold medals, break two British records and set two world leading times.

Speaking to the media, the Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European medallist said: “It has been a really busy and tiring week, but it has been great. It has been great to see the support that us as a team got from all the public back home.

“When we were out there, we were in like a bit of a bubble, so we didn’t actually know the impact it has had on the nation so to comeback and to kind of understand that and be chased for some many things, this week has been great.”

Photo: Getty Images

The triple European champion will compete in a star-studded women’s 200m tomorrow, which features world champion Dafne Schippers and Commonwealth champion and 400m Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

“It’s more like an Olympic final tomorrow so I am really, really excited. It’s typical that we have got an Olympic final straight after the Europeans, but I am really, really excited. You know the girls, we don’t avoid racing each other, we always just turn up, and I think this race in Birmingham is a great demonstration of that,” Asher-Smith added.

“Obviously, I am going to go out there and run my best. I always give 100 per cent, especially in front of a home crowd as I want to go out there and do everybody proud.”

The start list for the men’s 100m is equally impressive, and world leader for both 100m and 200m Noah Lyles is looking forward to proving his worth as the world’s quickest sprinter this year.

Lyles said: “I have been looking at the field a few times and I’m like ‘oh that’s a fast time, that’s a fast person too’ and you know what not everybody is going to get through to the final, but either way everybody is going to be trying to pull out their best.

“A lot of people as we are getting to the end of the season are putting down a lot of PRs. I’m looking to running against fast people and showing my worth.”

Taking to the 100m start line alongside Lyles will be newly crowned European champion Zharnel Hughes.

Photo: Getty Images

On competing against the world’s best sprinters, Hughes said: “To be honest, I don’t feel any pressure going into the race. For me, it is just about staying focused and staying focused on myself. It is about going out there and doing what I have been doing all season which is to execute my race.

“The field is really stacked, and I am really looking forward to a great competition and with great competition comes fast times. I definitely think we can give the crowd the performance they are expecting.”

World indoor pole vault champion Sandi Morris will return to the city where she won her first global title in March, and the Diamond League leader can’t wait to compete again in Birmingham.

Morris said: “I have such amazing memories from this past indoor season, winning my first gold at a global championship, there is nothing like the UK crowd. The fans are absolutely incredible and so knowledgeable, and it really helps the athletes feed off the energy of the crowd. I am just excited to come and jump again in Birmingham.”

With the world’s best pole vaulters competing in Birmingham, including Olympic, world and European champion Katerina Stefanidi, Morris is expecting fireworks in the pole vault competition on Saturday.

“We do have a stacked field. Everybody is here, everybody. I think a few of us are ready to take cracks at the five-metre barrier. I am hungry to break five metres again. I did in 2016 and this year seems to be the year for me to do it. I am on a roll, I have jumped in the 80s at pretty much every meet I have been to, I have jumped in the 90s a couple of times, I have jumped 4.95 twice in one year, so I am on a roll and I feel good,” Morris added.

On the opposite side of the Alexander Stadium, the world’s best long jumpers will take to the runway in the women’s long jump; a competition which will feature World Indoor pentathlon and Commonwealth heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

The European silver medallist said: “It’s a very tough field, but I love events like that and I love the long jump, it is my second favourite event, so I am glad Birmingham is putting the long jump on. It’s a competition, who knows what is going to happen on the day, I am just excited to be competing.”

The Muller Grand Prix Birmingham will also serve as a homecoming celebration for Britain’s European Championships team. Topping the medal table with 18 medals – including 7 golds – in Berlin, the British team will be paraded around the track at 12:47 tomorrow to the applause of the crowd before the Diamond League programme gets underway.

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Laura Muir and fellow medallists Eilish McColgan and Jake Wightman are among the 13 European medal-winning British athletes looking to continue their memorable 2018 seasons at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham on Saturday (August 18) at the Alexander Stadium.

Confirmed to be competing alongside the 12 other individual medallists who secured medals for Great Britain in Berlin, Muir was one of several athletes to make history at the European Championships as she became the first British female ever to win 1500m European outdoor gold.

Now aiming to make further history this coming weekend, Muir will take to the track in Birmingham with the aim of breaking Dame Kelly Holmes’ 21-year-old 1000m British record of`2:32.55.

“We British athletes are incredibly lucky to have such a great event straight on the back of a major championships,” said Muir. “It gives us the opportunity to say thank you to the amazing British fans for all of their support through the European Championships, and obviously, we all want to put on a show for them and perform really well too.

“I’ve had some great times in Birmingham – I remember that when I broke the British 1000m record indoors there last February the crowd were so loud that I couldn’t hear my footsteps or sense where anyone else was in the race – it was crazy – so I’m sure it’ll be much the same on Saturday at the Alexander Stadium.”

On Dame Kelly Holmes’ time to beat, 2:32.55, Muir added: “First and foremost, I am looking to win the race but if I can break the British record in doing so that would be fantastic.

“1000m is a distance I don’t often run over, but I am looking forward to the challenge and just going out there and hopefully putting on a show for the home crowd.

“You know that any record held by Dame Kelly Holmes is going to be a tough one to beat, but I feel in really good shape and am going to go after it with everything I’ve got.”

Further history was made in the women’s 1500m as Laura Weightman claimed European bronze – the first time two British females have both been on the same European podium – with Weightman running over the same distance in Birmingham.

A silver medal star over 5000m at the Olympiastadion, Eilish McColgan will run over the shorter distance of 3000m in Birmingham, with fellow Scot Jake Wightman racing the 800m, an event in which he continues to perform brilliantly as he continues to develop as one of Britain’s brightest middle-distance prospects.

RELATED: Muir wins 1500m gold, Weightman bronze and McColgan takes 5000m silver

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South African star Caster Semenya has been confirmed for the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham on Saturday, August 18.

Serving as her first ever race in Birmingham, Semenya will compete over 1500m at the Alexander Stadium. The 27-year-old has enjoyed success in the UK at both London 2012’s Olympic Games and last summer’s IAAF World Championships in the same city.

Having established her status as the 800m athlete to beat following three successive world titles and back to back Olympic golds over the distance, Semenya’s outing in Birmingham over 1500m – a distance which she has claimed world bronze and Commonwealth gold in the past 12 months – will see her have one eye on breaking her own South African record time of 3:59.92 set earlier this year in Doha.

“It has been such an amazing 12 months for me and I cannot wait to continue it by competing back in the UK again and in Birmingham for the first time ever,” said Semenya, speaking ahead of competing in Birmingham.

“It is rare that I get to race somewhere for the first time, so that in particular is really exciting and will motivate me to perform very well in what I know will be a great, great race.”

Among those joining Semenya in racing over the 1500m is five-time world championship medallist Sifan Hassan (NED).

Hassan impressively won the inaugural Millicent Fawcett mile in London less than two weeks ago in a time of 4:14.71, the fourth quickest women’s mile time in history, and is sure to relish returning to Birmingham having set Dutch records on her previous two outings in the city.

Also set to be present is Gudaf Tsegay (ETH), an athlete who carries extraordinary range with sub-2:00, sub-4:00 and sub-15:00 minute personal best times for 800m, 1500m and 5000m respectively, while world championship finalists Winny Chebet and Laura Weightman are joined by 2017 European indoor finalist Sarah McDonald.

Giving her thoughts on the relationship she holds with the British crowd, Semenya added: “I have been fortunate enough to have raced at the two biggest events in Britain in recent years – the 2012 Olympic Games and the world championships last year – and they were both unforgettable.

“The supporters themselves are absolutely amazing and have always been so welcoming – when it comes to your turn to be introduced before the start of a race, you know that there is a big, big cheer waiting.

“Hopefully I can repay them in Birmingham by being part of a great race and running very well, though I know the competition will be very tough as it always is.”

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