Scottish Records: Superb runs in America as Adam and Josh impress

Sunday 12th February 2023

To say Scottish athletes ‘smashed it’ in America through Saturday might be something of an understatement.

Over just a few hours the haul from only a handful amounted to two Scottish Records, two victories at the prestigious Millrose Games in New York, and a No 2 placing on the British all-time list for the men’s indoor mile.

It was a remarkable clutch of performances individually and collectively and little wonder if left America-based Chris O’Hare forwarding his congratulations to Millrose winners Josh Kerr and Laura Muir and Neil Gourley, who was second in the Wanamaker Mile.

Let’s start with the sprints, however, with Texas-based Adam Clayton setting PBs almost by the week at the moment.

This weekend, Adam clocked 20.72 for 200m. That’s a new Scottish mark for the event indoors, subject to the usual ratification procedures.

It followed on from a 6.67 PB for the 60m from Adam. That 60m run looks to be sixth best all-time indoors.

Great to see and well done to Adam, his family, his coach and support team on both sides of the Atlantic.

Scotsman Josh Kerr takes first place in the men's 3000m at the Millrose Games ??????? pic.twitter.com/bYcywielv9

— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) February 11, 2023

And so to New York.

Well done to Josh Kerr on a superb 3000m run at the Millrose Games.

Josh took a meeting record for the Millrose Games with a run of 7:33.47 to win and also land a new Scottish Record, subject to ratification.

Andy Butchart held the Record at 7:37.42 from last year while for Josh himself it was a first run over 3000m indoors since 2015.

It was great to see the 2021 Olympic medallist right back in form and indeed he closed the race out by moving from sixth to first from the 2k mark with a 2:26 kilometre.

Some 40 minutes or so after Josh’s win, there was another Scot claiming an impressive victory.

Laura Muir won the Wanamaker Mile in New York tonight with a strong indoor run at 4:20.15. Jemma Reekie clocked 4:28.91.

Can we argue now that Laura ‘owns New York’? The Olympic and World Champs medallist did, after all, win the Fifth Avenue Mile last September . . .

Moments after the women’s race, Neil Gourley came up with arguably of his best ever performances to take second place in the Men’s Wanamaker Mile.

America star Yared Nuguse won the race as Neil clocked 3:49.46. That improved his PB from a couple of weeks ago from 3:52 and is lodged now at No 2 on the British all-time list just behind (British Record holder) Josh Kerr. Josh ran 3:48.87 last year.

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In Boston, Sarah Inglis came up with a superb 5000m run as she posted 14:59.65 for second best all-time indoors. Holly Rees was at 15:55.92 and is now fifth in those all-time rankings.

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Brodie Young clocked a new PB of 46.54 for the 400m and that takes him to second place in our all-time list for men’s indoors for the distance.

Well done to Brodie!