Megan wins gold in Women’s 5000m at Euro U23 Champs

Thursday 13th July 2023

Photo by James Rhodes in Finland

Scotland has another European champion in athletics after a stunning track performance by Megan Keith for GB and NI at the Euro U23 Champs.

Megan took gold in the Women’s 5000m final in Espoo, Finland, as she added to the Euro Cross U20 title claimed in Dublin in Decebmer 2021.

The Inverness Harriers/Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds athlete surged forward just before the 3k mark and kept turning up the heat on her rivals over the remaining laps.

Megan pulled clear on the last lap quite brilliantly to win in 15:34.33 (just a couple of seconds outside her PB for the distance) and celebrate in a year when she also raced at the World Cross in Australia in March.

‘I told myself when I make a move, I needed to make it decisive and I’m really proud that’s what I did,’ said Megan.

‘I’m really happy to come away with the win, as we knew the race was going to be unpredictable.. I looked at the screen around 300m to go, and hoped to have enough to keep going, as I saw I had made a gap.

‘I ran at this track last year, and was disappointed how I ran, but I’ve been working hard since then and gained a lot of experience and I’m really happy with how it has gone.’

Congratulations to Megan, her family, coach Ross Cairns and all involved in her development over the years.

Team-mate Eloise Walker bravely crossed the line in fifth place after being in medal contention for all but the last 50m or so before suffering from a fall. Eloise bravely picked herself up to finish in 15:55.

*Sarah Tait is through to the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase final.

And sprinter Alyson Bell came up with a terrific run of 11.31 – to equal her PB – to reach the Women’s 100m final.

Brodie Young, in his first year at U23, just missed out on the Men’s 400m semis with 46.99 in his heat.

WATCH THE WHOLE OF THE WOMEN’S 5000M FINAL