Commonwealth Games champion Eilish McColgan will take on the iconic Great North Run route for the first time this year.
The Scottish middle and long distance runner will tackle the 13.1 mile Newcastle to South Shields track for the first time on Sunday, September 10, despite competing for the second time. The 32-year-old took on the event for first time in 2021 on an alternate course that had been modified due to pandemic related restrictions.
But this year she will be following in the footsteps of her mum, the legendary Liz McColgan, who was a prolific presence at the event in the 1990s, taking the top spot in 1992, 1995 and 1996.
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Eilish said: "I have such amazing memories of coming to Newcastle and taking part in the Junior Great North Run events. We also have a great family history at the Great North Run, with Mum being a three-time winner, so I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do on the original course.
"The pandemic course included a lot of uphill sections and was quite challenging, so I’m hoping for a much faster run this year."
After an incredible 2022 on and off the track, Eilish has already confirmed plans to prioritise road running in 2023 ahead of her debut in the London Marathon in April.
Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run, said: "After so many memorable performances from her Mum, Liz, over the years, its wonderful for me to have the opportunity to invite Eilish back to the Great North Run this year.
"We're delighted to confirm she will be back on the start line in September, she is an incredible ambassador for the sport and an inspiration to so many runners. We're working on a competitive field and we're sure it will be one to remember."
The AJ Bell Great North Run brings people from across the UK and around the globe together, with 60,000 entrants taking part in the biggest running event in the country. The ballot for the AJ Bell Great North Run is still open but will close on Monday, February 20, at 10am. For more information or to enter visit greatrun.org/north.
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