Peak time

EUROPEAN INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS Scots are thriving and Eilish McColgan believes it is because they are spurring each other on. Graeme Macpherson reports

SCOTTISH sport has suffered more than its fair share of false dawns but it is hard to shake the feeling that 2017 may well be the year our rising crop of athletes finally convert potential into medals. Leading the pack is middle-distance runner Laura Muir but she is not the only one striding out confidently and posting a string of personal bests.

Muir will be joined by five other Scots at this week’s European indoor championships in Belgrade – Steph Twell, Allan Smith, Guy Learmonth, Eilidh Doyle and Eilish McColgan – while there are high hopes for several others in the build-up to this summer’s world championships in London, including the Hawkins brothers, Chris O’Hare and Andy Butchart.

McColgan, who will race Muir over 1500m and 3000m this week, believes it is not a coincidence that they all seem to be peaking at around the same time. The 26-year-old, who made the 5000m final at last year’s Olympics in Rio, can’t quite explain the process that causes one athlete after another to raise their game but is sure that it has definitely happened.

Muir remains the one they are all chasing over distances as diverse as 1000m to 5000m but McColgan believes her younger rival’s form serves as a stimulant rather than a deterrent.

“We’ve always had those promising athletes there, it’s just that quite a few seem to be having a breakthrough year,” she said. “Laura doing well pushes on the general level of competition. It means the times that people are running are Eilish McColgan sees the indoor season as a stepping stone to the World Championships Photograph: PA now being seen as standard. Her it does push you on to try to better 8:26 (the European indoor 3000m yourself. When you see people runrecord set this month) is pushing ning PBs you automatically think, people and they know they need ‘I want to be running faster, I want to be posting around 8:30 in order PBs’. I’m not sure how exactly it to compete. I’ve run a PB this year, happens but it definitely inspires Steph Twell has run a PB and so others to strive for improvements. have other girls. There’s definitely “For those of us who grew up a knock-on effect. together it’s funny that we’ve all

“You go through peaks and managed to keep it going and make troughs in athletics. Sometimes it to senior level. That jump from there are years where you don’t the juniors isn’t an easy transition. really have anyone running those So to make the Olympics with sort of times and then people come so many other Scots that I knew through. This new crop coming from back then was really nice. through of Laura, Andy Butchart, There’s no reason why we can’t the Hawkins boys and others, are build on that. I’m thinking 2017 all from the same generation. It’s a can be a pretty special year for good generation to be a part of and Scottish athletics.”

Belgrade will be McColgan’s first taste of a major indoor finals, with the Manchester-based Dundonian having been either injured or recovering during previous years. She admits she sees it as “a means to an end” heading towards the outdoor season but hopes it will serve as a worthwhile experience.

“The indoor season isn’t something I focused on much in the past as I wasn’t usually fit and also because my main goal was always on making the outdoor teams,” McColgan said. “I think the majority of athletes are in the same boat. This is a stepping stone towards London in August but I think it’s still worthwhile taking the opportunity. There’s no reason to sit at home this year. I’m fit and healthy so why not make the most if it?”

McColgan added: “I’ve not changed my training to make me start to run faster – it’s just naturally happened. I’m happywith how things are going working towards the outdoors. If I can run PBs now, then in a few months, with even more training behind me I should be able to run faster still.

“My main event is the 3000m and that’s the one I’m focusing on. If I could come away with a PB or even get among the medals I would be really happy with that. The 1500m is really just for training. I’ve no aspirations there as I’ve not done the work in order to run fast over that distance. Running well over 3K is my plan. I definitely feel like I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I’m on the right road heading towards London.”

Muir, though, remains the one they have to beat. McColgan said: “She’s a huge inspiration to myself and the rest of the team, seeing someone so young competing at world level. There’s no reason why others can’t get to that level, too.

“There’s a lot of pressure on Laura heading towards these championships and even more so to start medalling outdoors. It will be interesting to see if she can do that in 2017 as she’s more than capable. She’s got the times and medals are the next step for her.”

It’s a good generation to be part of and it does push you on to try to better yourself