Brave Megan eighth in Euro final and Jemma at fifth; Jake through to 1500m final, too

Friday 14th August 2026

Photos via British Ahtletics/ Sam Mellish

Megan Keith had few regrets after her European Championships medal bid saw her ultimately finish eighth – with Jemma Reekie a fifth place finisher in her Birmingham final.

The Women’s 10,000m final proved compelling before Italian favourite Nadia Battocletti pulled clear to win in 31:41.12.

Megan had bravely earlier taken the race on and indeed led the field for a spell before halfway. The determined Scot was to lead again at 8k and 9k before being passed (en route to her SB performance 32:04.81).

‘It wasn’t how I thought the race might go, I like to take risks and big swings and sometimes they work and sometimes don’t,’ said Megan, who won bronze over 5000m at Glasgow 2026.

‘ I was feeling good, I wouldn’t have made a move if I wasn’t feeling good.

‘I just misjudged it, but I knew the race had to get moving at some point and it didn’t look like anyone else was doing it and I gave it a good go.’

Jemma came home in fifth place in the Women’s 800m at 1:59.15. Swiss athlete Audrey Werro, reinstated in the final after falling in the heats, took gold ahead of GB and NI’s Keely Hodgkinson.

‘It was really good, those girls are really strong and I’m just happy to be out on the start line with them again,’ said Jemma.

‘It’s been a while and I’m building. It’s been such a journey, and I can’t thank my team enough, my coach John (Bigg) has got me through so much these past few years.

‘I’m grateful for all of them, my family and my husband as well for getting me on the start line as it’s taken a lot to get there sometimes.’

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Earlier on Friday, team captain Jake Wightman progressed to the Men’s 1500m final with a controlled run in heat two,

In a slow race, Jake covered moves and stayed well positioned before kicking with around 200m remaining and held his advantage on the home straight.

‘I wanted to feel like I was in control of that which I felt like I did,’ said Jake.

‘ You know when you’re building those first few laps and it’s so slow that it’s going to be a quick last one which I feel like I’m good at that, but it’s not what you want the day before the final. You can’t really win you either way; you run quick all the way round or you have a quick last lap.’

Nicole Yeargin featured in a strong run by the Women’s 4x400m team to win their heat by some distance.

The Scot, with vast medal experience now in Relays, brought the baton home with her anchor leg split given as 50.15. Nicole completed the GB and NI the team of Emily Newnham, Lina Nielsen and Charlotte Henrich.

The Women’s 4x400m Relay final in Birmingham is on Sunday evening.