Doing it mummy’s way: McColgan emulates mum, wins 10,000m gold
Photo: Liz celebrates with her daughter Eilish at the Alexander Stadium.
From George Aluo, Birmingham
31-year-old Scotland’s Eilish McColgan was the cynosure of all eyes Wednesday night at the Alexander stadium here in Birmingham.
The hardworking athlete to the delight of her family won the Commonwealth Games 10,000m gold just like her mum Liz did way back in 1986 and 1990.
McColgan won in a Commonwealth Games record of 30 minutes 48.60 seconds.
The victory was her first major title as she beat Kenya’s Irine Cheptai following a race-long duel.
Cheptai led by a metre with 250m to go but McColgan kept her cool and attacked to move ahead and a response never came as the Scot threw her hands in the air as she crossed the line.
Cheptai’s compatriot Sheila Kiprotich came home in third nearly 20 seconds adrift to claim the bronze.
McColgan said: “It has been such an up-and-down year. But I knew the fitness was somewhere in me. Having my family here and the crowd here. It was vibrating through my whole body. I just wanted it so bad.
“I knew the Kenyans were super strong and would put in bursts. But you can see in that last 100m I wanted gold. It is an absolute dream. It is so special to have it here in the UK.
“These are my fourth Commonwealths and I have come sixth every time. I was ready to win the medal.”
Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah clinched the 100m title.
