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Scottish runner, Eilish McColgan — after a season of racing to remember — capped it all off by breaking the European 10K road record. She finished the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow in the time of 30:18. The previous record that she held was set in May this year at 30:19.

She told Scottish Athletics, “I am thrilled with that because it is so long since I ran in Scotland – certainly on the roads – and I really wanted to do well.” 

“To break my PB time by one second feels special. I came into the final stages and saw 30:00 on the clock but it was a wee bit deceptive how far I still had to run.

“I think I had 30:17 on my watch and you always worry that they will come back to you with the official time and there’s another three or four seconds added to it,” added McColgan.

McColgan now holds three Scottish national records, one European record, and one European best.

The 31-year-old has run the 5000m as fast as 14:28.55 and the 5K on the roads in 14:55, both Scottish records. Her 10K of 30:18 is her best performance out of her distance personal bests according to the World Athletics points scoring system. McColgan also holds the 10-mile best (not record) at 50:43. All have been set in 2021 or 2022.

The decorated runner was set to compete in the London Marathon Sunday, however, has opted to debut at the distance in the spring when the London fixture returns to its traditional schedule.

She is a three-time medallist at the European Championships, a two-time medallist at the Commonwealth Games including gold this summer in Birmingham with a stunning final lap to finish in 30:48.60. She is a six-time national champion.

Top results

Top Women

1. Eilish McColgan – 30:18 (New British and European record)
2. Lesley Bell – 36:33
3. Ruth Joss – 37:01
4. Alison Rowatt – 38:09
5. Holly Morrison – 38:25

Top Men 10

1. Lewis Hanning – 29:56
2. Callum Tharme – 30:18
3. Jamie Burns – 30:22
4. Seyd Taha Ghafari – 30:29
5. Ross A Gray – 31:16

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