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Scot, Eilish McColgan, set a new British 10,000m record that was previously held by Paula Radcliffe at the Sound Running 10 meet in Los Angeles on Saturday. McColgan now holds Scottish national records for the 5000m, 10,000m, 5km, 10km and half-marathon and British records in the 5000m and 10,000m.
McColgan broke Radcliffe’s 21-year-old British record by clocking a 30:00.86 performance to win the race. Radcliffe’s record was 30:01.09 set when she won the European title in Munich in 2002.
BRITISH RECORD#SALachieve
— scottishathletics (@scotathletics) March 5, 2023
A stunning run from @EilishMccolgan at the Sound Running 10 in California, to break Paula Radcliffe’s record which had stood for 21 years.
Congratulations to Eilish and her team. The athletics community in Scotland is very proud. pic.twitter.com/BoUNkoY7jg
“I’m absolutely buzzing,” said McColgan. “Two years ago I ran a big PB here so it’s nice to be back with the crowds. I knew I was in really good shape but to have it all come together on the day doesn’t always happen.”
Finishing in second place was American Alicia Monson with On Running Club. She clocked a new best of 30:03.82. Taking third was Elly Henes (adidas) with her 30:48.25 pb performance.
Having a great run of it
McColgan has had a great run of it in 2022 and 2023, so far. During 2022, she ran road bests over the 5K, 10K, 15K, and the 21.1K half-marathon. Also, in 2021, she clocked a 5000m best at the Bislett Games with her 14:28.55 performance and a 10 mile road best of 50.83, which is a national best time.
McColgan thought that she had a European road 10K record last year in October at the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow, however, the course was measured short and the record was subsequently struck from the books.
On to the marathon
McColgan will debut in the London Marathon on April 23, 31 years after her mom Liz McColgan-Nutall debuted in Tokyo. It was 30 years ago that McColgan-Nutall first ran London. For the younger McColgan, “it seems surreal.”
The 32-year-old will compete at the 26.2-mile/42.195-kilometre distance after the long string of great performances, including being crowned 10,000m Birmingham Commonwealth Games champion.
She told TCS London Marathon organisers, “Last year was better than I could have written for myself. With the Commonwealth Games being in the UK, a British crowd, my mum and dad being there, (my partner) Michael being there, and of course having that family history with my mum winning gold 32 and 36 years ago – I couldn’t have asked for any more.”
Liz won New York, Tokyo and London Marathons and finished second in London on two more occassions. She earned a silver medal in the 10,000m event at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games and countless other medals and top finishes at global championships. Eilish appears to be emulating her mother well. Next stop is in the marathon.
