Neil leads the way with 5000m PB amid top class performances

Monday 29th May 2023

Neil Gourley at Birmingham 2022 (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Neil Gourley kick-started a superb two or three days for Scottish athletes with an excellent 5000m performance in America.

The European Indoor silver medallist at 1500m raced over 5000m and clocked a big outdoor PB with 13:11.44 (after running 13:16 for the distance indoors last winter).

Neil’s run takes him to second on the Scottish all-time list for 5000m with the Men’s Record held by Andy Butchart at 13:06.21.

And those all-time lists, at both Senior and U20 level, require some serious re-writing this week after excellent Scottish performances over the weekend.

In Sacramento, sprinter Adam Clayton clocked a 10.27 for 100m (legal wind) that takes him to seventh on the Scottish all-time list.

Carys McAulay, racing in Belgium, moved to ninth on the Scottish Women’s all-time list for 400m – after improving the PB she set last week at Loughborough significantly to 52.12 (from 52.68).

‘I wanted to make the top ten on the Scottish list and then try and push on for the top five,’ said Carys.

In Spain, Eloise Walker posted a Euro U23 qualifying mark for the Women’s 5000m with 15:56.00.

Kane Elliott, pictured at the Loughborough International the previous week, is the latest sub four minute Scottish miler (photo by Bobby Gavin)

The Manchester BMC meeting on Saturday afternoon and evening was the backdrop for a large Scottish cohort.

*Kane Elliott became the latest Scotsman to break the iconic four mile mark for the Mile. Kane was fourth in the Emsley Carr Mile in Manchester with 3:59.36.

*Duncan Robinson took a fine win in the Men’s 1500m A race as the Giffnock North AC athlete.

*Erin Wallace was third in the Women’s 800m A race with her 2:01.78 performance taking her to 12^th on the all-time list.

Further, a trio of Scots hit qualifying standards for GB and NI for the forthcoming European Junior Champs.

*Conan Harper at 13:58.37 over 5000m to move second on Scottish all-time list for U20

*Tendai Nyabadza at 3:43.78 for 1500m

*Natasha Phillips at 16:19.22 for 5000m

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Ewan Bradley pictured during the indoor season (photo via British Athletics/Getty Images)

Scottish Combined Events athletes once again proved their class at the England Athletics Champs in Manchester.

There was a fine podium place for Ewan Bradley as he took silver in the Senior Men’s decathlon with a points tally PB of 7325.

Adam Hoole had been in contention for the medals throughout but had to settle for fourth place with 6987.

And, remarkably three more Scots made it five in the top seven thanks to performances by Craig Moncur at 6783, Callum Newby at 6680 and Will Hodi at 6638.

In the Women’s Heptathlon, Katie Burr was eighth with the highlight a javelin event win with a PB of 46.98 (improving by a couple of metres).

Well done to all the Scottish CE athletes who competed in Manchester and to their families, coaches and clubs.

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Tags: Carys McAulay, Kane Elliott, Neil Gourley