Eilish ‘gutted’ as she narrowly misses out on mum Liz’s record

Dundee Hawkhill Harrier Eilish Mccolgan helped herself to an Olympic 10,000 metres qualifying mark in California yesterday, but the Dundonian confessed she was floored after missing her mum Liz’s Scottish record by less than two seconds.

The 30-year-old, preparing for her half-marathon debut in Atlanta later this month, came third at The Ten meeting in 30:58.94 – demolishing her previous personal best by 18 seconds.

It moved the European Championship medallist up to fifth on the UK’S all-time list and into pole position for a berth at the Tokyo Olympics.

But she said: “I was so gutted when I saw the clock. My eyes were so fuzzy. Maybe it’s the jet lag but I could barely see the clock.

“Obviously when I saw 58, I was gutted. My mum’s time is 30:57.07 and I had that as a target to aim for.

“But I’m still really proud of myself. I’m still really happy to run a big PB. February 20 was still earlier than I ever expected to start my track season. But I’m still really happy with it.”

The women’s race was won by the USA’S Elise Cranny in 30:47.42 with Britain’s Marc Scott taking victory in the men’s in 27:10.41, moving the Englishman second in the UK rankings behind Mo Farah and inside the Tokyo qualifying standard.

● Scottish athlete Guy Learmonth hopes winning the British trials for the European Indoors yesterday gets him a seat on the plane to Torun, Poland, next week – and the chance to chase a medal clean sweep.

The Borderer, 28, eased to victory in the 800 metres in Manchester in 1:47.81, almost two seconds clear of Ben Pattison in a three-horse race.

Learmonth has been cut adrift in the all-time rankings by domestic rivals Elliot Giles and Jamie Webb following their wonder runs in Poland last week that saw both Englishman duck inside Seb Coe’s longstanding UK record.

But with UK Athletics bosses set to name the GB&NI team for the championships today, he is in the mood to make up lost ground.

Learmonth said: “The aim was just to win and finish strongly on the last 200m.

“Now I can go home, go back to training and hopefully get ready for the European Indoors.”

Eilish Mccolgan.