Laura Muir to concentrate on 1500m title at European Championships

Laura Muir will only race in the 1500m at the European Championships as she hunts her first major outdoor title.

The 25-year-old has opted to withdraw from the 800m after suffering an inflamed Achilles at the Anniversary Games at the weekend.

British Athletics confirmed a 102-strong team for the championships in Berlin next month with CJ Ujah also getting the expected selectors’ pick for the final 100m spot.

Muir claimed bronze in the 3000m and silver in the 1500m at the World Indoor Championships in March having won gold in both at the European Indoors last year.

Performance director Neil Black said: “The standard of performances from British athletes since the Commonwealth Games in April has been extremely high and therefore competition for places to Berlin has been more competitive than ever.

“This is a huge opportunity for athletes to demonstrate form ahead of two global championship summers.

“These European Championships are an important marker on the road to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and we expect to be competing for medals at every turn.”

World number one Lorraine Ugen is included in the long jump with fellow European leaders Zharnel Hughes (100m) and Dina Asher-Smith (100m and 200m) tipped to win gold.

Anyika Onuora and Eilidh Doyle will make history in Berlin as they prepare for a record-equalling fifth appearance for the British team at a European Championships.

For the first time at a major championships there are more women (56) selected than men (46).

Black added: “It is fantastic that for the first time ever more women than men have been selected and this underlines further that athletics is a truly equal sport.

“I would like to congratulate both Anyika and Eilidh on what will be their fifth appearance for the British team at the European Championships.”