Scottish Record alert! Eilish takes 10,000m mark from mum Liz in Hengelo

Tuesday 7th June 2022

It had stood for 31 years but yet another Scottish Record has now fallen – as Eilish McColgan eclipsed her mum’s mark for 10,000m.

Eilish stormed to a superb victory on Monday afternoon at the FBK Continental Tour meet in Hengelo in Holland with a big PB of 30.19.02.

That’s a new Scottish Record with Liz having held the honour at 30:57.07 from a meeting at the very Dutch same venue back in June 1991.

It was another awesome performance in many ways as the Scot led from gun to tape in wet and windy conditions – as the Ethiopian World trials for the distance took place in her wake. Or, as World Athletics commentator Kris Temple put it, ‘in a different parish from Eilish’.

In truth, it was one of the finest performances by a Scottish athlete on the track outside of major championships give the way it was won, the conditions, the time and the opposition.

Eilish won in such style that even World Record-holder Letesenbet Gidey was a long way adrift. After 7k, and with 3000m to go, the leading Ethiopians were 45 seconds behind McColgan.

At the finish the trials winner, Gidey, had narrowed that gap but she was still 25 seconds behind the Briton with a time of 30:44.27 as she out-kicked fellow Ethiopian Ejgayehu Taye and Margaret Kipkemboi of Kenya.

Frustrated that no other athletes raced tonight frustrated with the weather but happy with @EilishMccolgan solo effort in her 1st track race ofthe year with another pb 30:19.02 5th fastest ever in Europe and new scottish record #henglo. #10k @ASICSUK @ASICSeurope @scotathletics pic.twitter.com/5x5YwesaLZ

— liz mccolgan (@Lizmccolgan) June 6, 2022

All this in her opening track meet of the season. Eilish is now second on the UK all-time list (Paula Radcliffe holds the mark at 30:01) and moves to fifth on the European all-time list

‘I’m in good shape,’ said McColgan.

‘I was leading from the start and had to make a switch mentally, because I expected that the Ethiopian girls would have come along. I really want to break the national record. But overall I’m happy with the result.’

Warm congratulations to Eilish and her mum/coach Liz, partner Michael and all her support team.

And so the excitement continues to build for the summer ahead with Eilish in superb form so far in 2022.

*Pitreavie AAC’s Nicole Yeargin was third in the Women’s 400m at Hengelo with 51.56 inside the qualifying standards for the Commonwealths and the Europeans.

Jack Lawrie takes down Scottish 400m Hurdles Record

A typical ?effort from @EilishMccolgan . Outstanding solo effort to win in Hengelo in 30:19.02- a 39 secs Pb improving @Lizmccolgan Scottish rec set on this track in 1991- (weeks before her world title) . Great running

— IanHodge8 (@ian_hodge8) June 6, 2022