Laura Muir booked her place in the final of the 1500m at the Commonwealth Games with the minimum of effort from her heat on Friday morning.
With five of the seven-woman field guaranteed a place in the final, Muir kept herself to the back of the field throughout.
But as the race headed into the home straight, the recent World Championship bronze medallist kicked sufficiently to ensure an automatic qualifying spot without pushing herself unduly.
Wales’ Melissa Courtney-Bryant, a Games bronze medallist four years ago and runner-up at the British trials for the World Championships, had looked in danger of failing to make it through shaking her head as she crossed the line in sixth behind Muir.
But she snuck through as a fastest loser, so too Jemma Reekie, who had cut a disconsolate figure after missing out on a place in the final of her preferred event the 800m.
But going in the second heat over the longer distance, the 24-year-old, a training partner of Muir who has been beset by glandular fever this year, finished sixth to ensure her passage into the final at the weekend as the fastest loser.
On what is her 28th birthday, Cindy Sember won her heat of the 100m hurdles in a time of 12.67seconds to book her place in the final after which the packed crowd at Alexander Stadium broke into an impromptu rendition of happy birthday.
