Muir back as GB name World Championships squad

Laura Muir has been passed fit and will spearhead Great Britain's charge at this month's World Championships, with more women than men selected for Doha.

Muir tore her calf during the final lap of her 1500m victory at the Anniversary Games in July and subsequently missed the British Championships and Diamond League finale.

However, the world number one will be back on track in the 1500m, bidding for a first World Championship medal.

Of the 72 athletes selected, 37 are women and 35 are men with British Athletics choosing more women for the second straight major championships.

Like Muir, Dina Asher-Smith is a high medal hope and is targeting a 100m/200m double, while Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s heptathlon battle with Olympic champion Nafi Thiam is hotly-anticipated.

Zharnel Hughes and Adam Gemili are also competing in the 100m and 200m, the first British men to do so since Marlon Devonish 14 years ago in Helsinki, while 400m runner Martyn Rooney is set for his eighth World Championships.

In total, 44 athletes return to the world stage having previously earned selection for London 2017 including world indoor champion Andrew Pozzi, Lynsey Sharp and Holly Bradshaw.

Great Britain won six medals, including gold in the men’s 4x100m relay and with Mo Farah in the men’s 10,000m, two years ago.

Performance director Neil Black said: “In the 72 athletes, I truly believe we have selected the strongest team possible to compete for medals on the global stage.

“The team is full of world-class athletes who over the past two years since we were hosts in London have proven that they belong on the global stage.

“It is great to see so many athletes return having competed in London and also see so many make the step up to the world level for the first time.

“We have selected more women than men once again for a major championships and special mention needs to go to Martyn Rooney, who is competing at his eighth World Championships, a truly remarkable feat for a great athlete.”

Sportsbeat 2019