Eilish McColgan beat her mother Liz’s Scottish record with victory in the 10,000 metres at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in Hengelo on Monday.
The 31-year-old defied wind and rain at the Dutch venue to finish ahead of world record-holder Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia in a time of 30 minutes 19.02 seconds.
Liz McColgan, a former world champion and Olympic silver medallist who is now her daughter’s coach, ran the previous Scottish best of 30:57.07 at the same venue 31 years ago.
Now only Paula Radcliffe, with 30:01.09, has gone faster from the United Kingdom.
It’s a PB and a Scottish record – my mum’s record, which she set here. She’ll be happy for me.
McColgan told worldathletics.org: “I set out with the intention to chase the British record. It was a lot tougher than I imagined.
“Still, it’s a PB (personal best) and a Scottish record – my mum’s record, which she set here. She’ll be happy for me. She’s my coach.”
The event doubled up as a World Championships trial for the Ethiopian team.
Gidey, whose world-leading time of 29:01.03 also came at Hengelo last year, finished second in 30:44.27. Fellow Ethiopian Ejgayehu Taye was third in 30:44.68.
Almaz Ayana, the 2016 Olympic champion and former world record-holder, was seventh.
