Steph vows to bounce back; Andy fourth in Italy

Monday 5th October 2020

Photo via Virgin Money London Marathon

Marathon Project on the right road – the Herald

Steph Twell has vowed to bounce back from the disappointment of a DNF in her debut Virgin Money London Marathon.

The Scottish Record holder was in the group of lead British athletes around halfway on Sunday before having to concede defeat to injury issues.

Steph revealed later she had been suffering from plantar fasciitis and the wet conditions in London exacerbated the condition.

‘Conditions magnified a niggle today so tough call to DNF but one which I will look to bounce back from,’ tweeted Steph, as she also thanked the athletics community in Scotland for support.

With Lily Partridge also dropping out, Natasha Cockram sealed the British Championship title with 2:33.19 while second-placed Naomi Mitchell secured a significant lifetime best at 2:33:23. Tracy Barlow took the British Champs bronze with 2:34:42.

The race was won by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgie in 2:18:58 with American Sara Hall taking second and Ruth Chepngetich third.

It was a day when Eilish McColgan savoured the marathon experience in her role as pace-maker and splits show Eilish went through the half marathon distance in 72:26 and running on to around 17.5 miles.

British Athletics website report on British Champs in London

Thats a @LondonMarathon i’ll never forget, amazing support from friends and fellow @GGHarriers 3:23:46 was my official app time ???? @scotathletics pic.twitter.com/fY6eocPXS5

— Bob Dolan ????? (@bob_do1an) October 4, 2020

Sunday also witnessed a whole host of marathon performances, physical and virtual, by Scots all over the UK and doubtless even beyond these shores.

Central AC secretary Michael Wright has adjusted his plans a number of times over the past few months but still came up with a victory and new PB to win a marathon event in York. Michael clocked 2:25.45 for that victory.

And Aberdeen-based duo Will Mackay and Chris Richardson were first and third respectively at another event at Dornay Lakes in times of 2:26 and 2:28 respectively.

Across Scotland it was brilliant to see club athletes taking on the marathon distance and with many of them being paced and supported by club-mates – #SALtogether, right enough . . .

+++

WMRA report on Trofeo Nasego

Andy Douglas undertook his first international event of 2020 as he raced at the prestigious Trofeo Nasego meeting in Italy.

And, despite facing a strong field, the Scot finished only eight seconds outside the podium as he took third place in Sunday’s main race of the weekend.

Andy clocked 1:37.36 just shy of third place on a day when the races were won by Sylvain Cachard, in a course record for the men’s event, and Sarah McCormack.

In the shorter, ‘vertical’ event the previous day, Andy was in eighth place.

+++

Tags: Andy Douglas, Eilish McColgan, Steph Twell