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Eilish McColgan broke the Commonwealth Games 10,000-metre record in Birmingham with a spectacular 30:48.60 clocking.

McColgan took the lead early and added more pace after the 13th of 25 laps. Kenyan Irine Cheptai finished second but did not give in easily as the two battled hard over the final five laps. They surged off and on trying to break each other. With 200 metres remaining, the two were stride for stride, then McColgan pulled ahead, to take the race and Commonwealth record in front of her coach and mother Liz McColgan-Nutall.

The two dug deep, giving it their all. McColgan stepped out from behind Cheptai on the final bend, pulled up beside her and put everything she had into the final 60m. Cheptai hung on but could not respond to McColgan’s pace. Cheptai clocked a 30:49.52 finish time for silver.

Sheila Kiprotich of Kenya finished third to take bronze in 31:09.46.

McColgan owns a best of 30:19.02 from Hengelo two months ago. On July 16, she finished 10th in the Eugene World Athletics Championships in the time of 30:34.60. The 31-year-old holds 10 Scottish national records or bests. She holds one British record in the 5000m event at 14:28.55 from the 2021 Bislett Games. All of her Scottish records were previously her mother’s.

McColgan will be moving up to the marathon even, possibly this fall in London.

Results

POSCGANameTime 
1SCOEilish McCOLGAN30:48.60GR
2KENIrine Chepet CHEPTAI30:49.52SB
3KENSheila Chepkirui KIPROTICH31:09.46SB
4UGAStella CHESANG31:14.14 
5ENGJessica JUDD31:18.47 
6ENGSamantha HARRISON31:21.53PB
7RSADominique SCOTT31:25.18 
8AUSIsobel BATT-DOYLE32:04.52 
9SCOSarah INGLIS32:04.74 
10UGARachael Zena CHEBET32:30.95 
11RWACeline IRANZI32:48.60PB
12LESNeheng KHATALA33:27.35PB
13LESMathakane LETSIE