#TallinnTen: Fourth place finishes for Megan and Kane at Euro U20s

Sunday 18th July 2021

Megan Keith celebrates her PB in the Euro U20 Champs Women’s 3000m final in Estonia (photo via British Athetics)

Megan Keith came within just three hundredths of a second of a superb medal moment at the Euro U20 Champs in Estonia.

Instead, the Inverness Harriers athlete had to settle for a fine 3000m track PB and a brave bronze medal in the searing heat of Tallinn.

Kane Elliott was also desperately close to the medals as he finished fourth in the 1500m final with fellow Scot, Joe Ewing, finishing tenth in that race.

Megan had won her heat in impressive style on Thursday afternoon and, 48 hours later, was back on the track at the Kadriorg Stadium with a clear determination to try and contest the medals.

With two laps remaining, there was still a bunch of athletes involved and, as the pace increased, Megan kept herself very much in contention. With 200m left, she was slightly detached in fifth but a late burst saw her competing for any shade of the medal into the home straight.

As it turned out, Finn Ilona Mononen won the race in 9:15.66 and less than a second covered the top four with, agonisingly, the Scot squeezed into fourth in 9:16.50 by Norwegian Halle Haugen‘s late burst for 9:16.47.

Nonetheless it was a performance and a PB to savour for our U20 4J Studios Athlete of the Year, who is coached by Ross Cairns, and has made such an impact in the past couple of years, first in cross country and now on the track.

The men’s 3000m followed soon after and Duncan Robinson came up with a 12th place finish in 8:26.33.

It was a second solid run in three days for the Giffnock North AC athlete who has come into the sport in dramatic fashion from canicross, where he is a World Junior champion, with guidance from Ben Robinson (no relation) and Dudley Walker.

A few minutes prior to Megan’s final, it was great to watch two Scots contest the Men’s 1500m final at the Euro U20 Champs.

Kane took fourth place in 3:47.53 and it was 10th for Joe in 3:50.66 as the race caught fire in the final lap with Irish athlete Cian McPhillips taking the victory.

Falkirk Victoria Harriers athlete Kane did much of the early work in the race and was in the hunt for the medal with 150m remaining but McLuckie edged ahead into the home straight.

Well done to Kane and Joe and their families and coaches, Willie Sharp and Carol Sharp (Joe) on representing GB in Tallinn.

On Friday afternoon, it was a tough run in the sun in Estonia for all 23 men in the Euro U20 final late this afternoon.

Alastair Marshall made his GB debut and came up with a 16th place finish in 14:57.44.

Well done to the Central AC athlete and his family and coach Derek Easton on representing GB at the Euro U20s after an excellent 2021 season (so far) . .

Definitely wanted more out of European Juniors but not losing sleep over a 10th place finish in my first GB vest! One last race to wrap up the season before the fun begins stateside… https://t.co/JJB1muMkhP

— Joe (@EwingJoee) July 17, 2021

Executed the race plan but just didn't have the legs, an amazing learning experience and hopefully a taste of what there is to come,
You tell 14 year old me that I'd be in European Champs representing GB I'd bite your arm off…
Thank you @BritAthletics for the opportunity https://t.co/EolF1hWr0R

— Alastair Marshall (@AlastairMarsh11) July 16, 2021