Eilish McColgan aims to secure a victory at this weekend’s Great North Run, hoping to mirror her mother Liz’s past success in the prestigious event that will see 60,000 participants. Despite narrowly missing out on first place in a thrilling sprint finish last year, McColgan is determined to claim the top spot in the upcoming half marathon course from Newcastle to South Shields.
Expressing her excitement, McColgan highlighted the significance of the race, mentioning her mother’s triumphs and the prestigious history of the event. She emphasized her desire to emerge victorious this time, acknowledging the formidable competition she will face.
Having previously clinched Commonwealth 10,000m gold and overcoming injury setbacks, McColgan recently set a new Scottish record in her marathon debut in London. Using the Great North Run as preparation, she eyes her next challenge in the New York Marathon scheduled for November.
Reflecting on her journey, McColgan emphasized the importance of overcoming mental barriers and making progress in her career, despite setbacks. Looking ahead, she sees potential for further achievements and a resurgence in her athletic pursuits.
In the men’s elite race, Marc Scott leads the British contingent, aiming to defend his title against tough competition from notable contenders such as Abel Kipchumba, Alex Mutiso Munyao, and Bashir Abdi.
As a Science in Sport Ambassador, McColgan represents SiS, the Official Nutrition Partner of the AJ Bell Great North Run, endorsing their BETA Fuel Energy gels for performance enhancement.