POOLE AC’s Melissa Courtney caused a major upset as she beat reigning European 1500m champion Laura Muir in the Vitality Westminster Mile before four days later becoming the first Welsh woman to break 15 minutes for 5,000m.

Muir had finished almost eight seconds clear over 3,000m on March 1 when the pair shared podium places in Glasgow at the European Indoor Championship.

Boosted by adding further bronze to her April 2018 Commonwealth 1500m third place, Courtney enjoyed a successful block of training in Arizona before last weekend heading for the streets of London.

Courtney’s surge off the final bend left the Scot trailing by one second in third, edging victory from 2016 winner Sarah McDonald, though the pair both clocked 4:31.

Former Poole Runners talent Verity Ockenden claimed fourth place from ex-Bournemouth University 800m star Adelle Tracey (both 4:35).

Reflecting on victory, Courtney said: “Everyone was here, so I am delighted to have defended my title. It’s really unexpected.

“We turned the last corner and I knew I had to go for it. I’m so pleased I had it at the end.

“Laura’s achievements have made us all work so much harder and it’s great to beat her.

“It helped that I know the turns here. I hope I can come back and make it three in a row.”

Buoyed by her success, Courtney on Thursday opened her track season with the Diamond League in Stockholm, in a race which became the fastest women’s 5,000m so far this year.

Agnes Jebet Tirop won for Kenya in 14:50.82, however, Courtney claimed a personal best by almost 11 seconds, becoming the first Welsh woman to break 15 minutes as she clocked 14:53.82, finishing eighth.

Courtney also secured qualification for September’s World Championship in Doha and the required entry time for next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.

She now ranks sixth on the UK all-time 5,000m list behind Paula Radcliffe, Jo Pavey, Zola Budd, Eilish McColgan (who edged her for seventh with 14:52:40 in Stockholm) and Muir.