Scottish athletics that’s why you are Is one big family... having a golden era
Olympic hero Merry attributes a nation’s success on the track to collective unity behind the scenes
THIS is a story of fathers and daughters, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters. It is therefore about family but one that extends to those who patrol the sidelines. They also serve who stand and wait.
It is told by a participant in athletics and, subsequently, a witness to it. Katharine Merry has seen it all and done much of it.
The Englishwoman is in Glasgow today to attend the annual dinner of Scottish Athletics.
The Warwickshire lass is now a commentator and broadcaster after a spectacular athletics career. This experience makes her an articulate and insightful analyst of the rise of the sport in Scotland and the conspicuous, world-class success of those who contend for the Athlete of the Year award tonight.
This list comprises Laura Muir, Eilish McColgan and Jake Wightman. The para category is close, too, with contenders Sean Frame, Samantha Kinghorn and Melanie Woods all having excelled at Birmingham 2022.
Merry will detail their traits and individual successes in a wide-ranging conversation but first assents to a sprint through her career that has parallels for the elite Scots.
‘It was through my father, I suppose,’ she says, with the unspoken message being that Wightman followed in the paths of his father, Geoff, and mother, Susan, who were both outstanding athletes, and McColgan traced the footsteps of Liz at the Commonwealth Games this summer.
At ten years of age, Merry was inspired and intrigued by the pursuits of her father, an English school internationalist in the triple jump who went on to compete at masters level.
Her potential was spotted by a PE teacher. ‘Not the one at my school,’ she says. ‘He lived down the road. He told my dad that I was pretty quick and that was the validation I needed.’ Her ascent was swift.
She earned her first international vest at 13 and some of the junior and senior records she set still stand today. She was the fastest woman in the world over 400m in 2001. ‘I am proud the records range across a few events,’ she says. ‘I still have a high-jump record from junior level.’ She won an Olympic bronze in 2000 and a European bronze in the relay in 1998. It is the former that made her a participant in history. On September 24, 2000, in front of 112,000 spectators at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Merry lined up for the 400m final in one of the most compelling events in the competition’s storied history. Cathy Freeman, an indigenous Australian, was the favourite and the crowd was loudly expectant. ‘It was surreal,’ says Merry. ‘We all knew the magnitude of the race because of Cathy with her heritage and the drama about Marie-Jose Perec pulling out and the tensions that caused.’ The Frenchwoman, Freeman’s constant rival, said she had withdrawn from the competition because of ‘harassment’ from the Australian public and press. Merry was, in contrast, facing a night of fulfillment. ‘Getting a place in that final ... it was just a moment of a lifetime, you were part of history,’ says Merry (right). She was more than merely a participant. She finished third with a strong run behind Freeman and Lorraine Graham of Jamaica. ‘It was the perfect outcome, it was scripted beautifully. This was the way it was meant to be,’ she adds.
‘My mum and dad were watching it from home. You know it is a special moment and you want to take in as much as you can. It’s like taking photographs with your eye, capturing everything for all time.’ So what remains with her? ‘I recall Cathy had no emotion at all after the race, through the press conference, on the walk to the podium, receiving her medal. It was bizarre, given the pressure on her. She didn’t break down or cry. We were laughing because Lorraine, who won the silver, did not stop crying from the moment she crossed the line. What a contrast.’
The emotion climaxed at the playing of the Australian anthem. ‘The impact on the crowd … the singing. Even though it was someone else’s anthem it was very moving. I will never forget it.’
She remains friendly with Freeman. ‘Every now and again we touch base,’ she says. ‘If you know Cathy, it is no surprise that she retreated from the sport after she retired. It just wasn’t her desire to stay in the sport in broadcasting or any other role. She is in a very good place with her foundation and with her family. That’s what Cathy is about.’
Merry took another path. She was beset with injuries and became a broadcaster and stadium announcer. ‘I kind of fell into it,’ she says. ‘I suppose my injury problems made the crossover seamless. It wasn’t a steadfast plan. But it happened and I’m glad of it, I am still involved in athletics 37 years on from that ten-year-old girl.’
SHE thus became the witness to history. ‘I sat next to Jake’s mum,’ she says of the day in July this year when Wightman won the world 1500m title in Oregon. Merry is a broadcasting colleague of Wightman senior and a family friend.
Geoff Wightman was filmed announcing his son’s global triumph in a video that gained more than a million views.
‘We always film Geoff when Jake runs,’ she says. ‘It’s obviously a race he really wants to do. We have no ego and we split everything else up but Geoff likes that race.’
The family element of athletics is emphasised when Merry points out that she has only come to know Jake over the past few years but was more familiar with his brother Sam, who was the mascot of British athletics.
She makes a general point about Scottish athletes before analysing the contenders for the top award tonight. ‘Scottish athletes — para or otherwise — have a little more drive, desire. It is something they all share,’ she says.
Of Wightman, she adds: ‘He’s on another level now. He won a world title with a tactical masterclass but he backed that up in other major events — European Championships, Commonwealth. His consistency is at such a top level. His confidence is amazing,
Iconic: Cathy Freeman, in a body-suit, crosses the line to win Olympic 400m gold in 2000
Laura is outstanding, Eilish is brilliant and Jake is world class
too. He is now at the top of his game. You can’t discount him on the world scene from 800m, through 1500, to the mile.’
Of Muir, world contender at both 800m and 1500m, she says: ‘Laura has consistency and resilience to back up her talent. All three on the shortlist have been like machines. She was knackered at the Commonwealth Games and thewww Euros, but she still competes with outstanding success. Laura has been consistent for so long. For me, she has been the backbone of Scottish athletics.’
On McColgan, she says simply: ‘Oh my God. The Alexander Stadium in Birmingham is my home track. I have witnessed many brilliant things over the years. I have banked memories. I have run there very fast myself. But what Eilish did was incredible.’
Her memory of the 10,000m final at the Commonwealth Games prompts a strong verdict. ‘There was no chance Eilish was not going to win. She would not allow that. People sensed that. Flower of Scotland was sung by everybody at the medal presentation. Wow.
‘People enjoyed that moment but they are now appreciating what she is doing. And on the road, too. What a story... to repeat at the Commonwealth Games what her mother did first in 1986. History has been passed down.’
What are the chances of the Merry journey being followed by her son, Lucas, 11, and daughter, Olivia, eight?
‘Lucas is very quick. He has fallen into football because he is very good at it. But I will have a look at him on the track, too. Olivia was into football but she’s chilling now and is into dance. As long as they keep active, then I’m happy.’
She is delighted to be part of a big night for Scottish athletics when the genuinely great will be rewarded but she believes the reason for this success has humbler but substantial roots.
‘I remember five years ago I was speaking to someone involved in Scottish athletics and said: “You guys are starting to create something special”. So it’s no surprise it has come about.’
What is the lesson that athletics in Scotland can offer to other nations?
‘There is an understanding, a respect in the athletic community that they give to the sport,’ she says. ‘The level of understanding and respect given to coaches, officials and athletes as a collective family has been raised to another level. That’s down to the people in charge. Everybody who plays a part feels worthy.’
It is, in short, a family affair. The Birchfield Harriers graduate is eager to embrace it again in Glasgow.