Eilish 11th in 5000m and Nicole helps GB and NI through in 4x400m Relay
Photos from British Athletics/Getty Images
Eilish McColgan is headed back to Britain to prepare for her third Commonwealth Games after an 11th place finish in the 5000m final at the World Champs.
Eilish had finished tenth in the 10,000m in Oregon – the fourth time in her career she has finished in that position in a global final.
This time, the 31-year-old joked she would have settled for one place higher as a tough championships concluded in 11th with a run of 15:03.03 minutes.
‘I wish I was tenth this time!
‘I found that tough, I really did. We ran slower in overall time than we did in the heat but the heat was far easier than that was. I suppose it was just the injection of pace but I knew that would be the case and I wanted to try something a little bit different anyway.
‘I’m proud of myself for the way I covered it, I was probably more involved there than in the 10k, which I thought would be the other way round.
‘I’m a little bit disappointed I didn’t close as well as I would like, but with a 1k to go I was thinking ‘will I make it?’ as opposed to ‘I feel strong’.
‘It is what it is, I’m here, two major finals and my hamstring is still attached.’
McColgan was joined in the women’s 5000m final by British team-mate Jess Judd, who finished 13th in the 5000m in 15:19.88.
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The British women’s 4x400m relay quartet were extremely impressive in the heats as they qualified for the final with Nicole Yeargin on the anchor leg.
GB and NI were close to the dominant Americans throughout. Ama Pipi, in lane one, didn’t let the stagger put her off and a smooth hand over to Laviai Nielsen put them second after the first 400m.
They wouldn’t relinquish that position, Nielsen and Victoria Ohuruogu avoiding any trouble caused by the Dutch dropping their baton on the second exchange, with Yeargin almost catching American Jaide Stepter Baynes on the final leg.
They clocked 3:23.92 for second in that first heat and an impressive second overall as they go in pursuit of a first world medal in the event since 2017.
‘It felt really good, we were in the mix so I love when we are in front it makes my job a whole lot easier,’ said Nicole.
‘I thought I was going to get it [first] but it’s OK and we look forward to the final now.’
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It was a tough moment for Jemma Reekie as she finished fifth in the opening semi-final of the Women’s 800m at the World Champs.
Jemma clocked 2:00.43 in her race with only the top two assured of progressing plus two further qualifiers.
The Kilbarchan AAC athlete will head home soon and start the preparations for Commonwealth Games duty with Team Scotland at Birmingham 2022
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Tags: Eilish McColgan, Jemma Reekie, Nicole Yeargin, Oregon, Oregon 2022
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