CWG 2022: Eilish McColgan takes 10,000m gold to complete family hat-trick

CWG 2022: Scotland’s Eilish McColgan followed in her mother’s footsteps when she won the Commonwealth Games 10,000m title in gritty style on Wednesday, battling past Kenyan Irene Cheptai for an emotional victory in a Games record time. Follow Commonwealth Games 2022 LIVE updates, Medal Tally, and more with InsideSport.IN

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CWG 2022: Eilish McColgan takes 10,000m gold to complete family hat-trick

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 03: Eilish McColgan of Team Scotland celebrates winning the gold medal as she crosses the finish line in the Women’s 10,000m Final on day six of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Alexander Stadium on August 3, 2022 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)

Liz McColgan won the same title in 1986 and 1990 – as well as the world title in 1991 – and Eilish has now written her own script after a series of big-event near-misses.

She set a strong early pace on Wednesday and was eventually left alone with Cheptai for the final four laps before gritting her teeth to surge clear over the last 150 metres and win in 30 minutes 48.60 seconds.

Kenya’s Sheila Kiprotich took a brave bronze after appearing to suffer an injury with more than a mile to go but limping on to finish clear of Uganda’s defending champion Stella Chesang.

McColgan struggled in last month’s world championships following a bout of illness but arrived in Birmingham finally fully fit.

“It’s just been such an up and down year with COVID, another illness and a couple of other niggles,” she said.

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CWG 2022: Eilish McColgan takes 10,000m gold to complete family hat-trick

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 03: (L-R) Silver medalist Irine Chepet Cheptai of Team Kenya, gold medalist Eilish McColgan of Team Scotland and bronze medalist Sheila Chepkirui Kiprotich of Team Kenya pose for a photo during the medal ceremony for the Women’s 10,000m Final on day six of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Alexander Stadium on August 03, 2022 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“Having my family here was great and the crowd on the last 200m it was vibrating through my body. I have never sprinted like that in my life and without the crowd I could never have done that.

“This is my third Commonwealth Games and my fourth (different) event so I finally found an event. I came sixth every time so to win it tonight was so special. You could see I wanted gold.”

Mother Liz added: “To witness your daughter win in the same event is incredible – she just ran the race I knew she was capable of running.”

Hot favourite Katarina Johnson-Thompson of England retained the heptathlon title ahead Northern Ireland’s Kate O’Connor and England’s Jane O’Dowda.

CWG 2022: Eilish McColgan takes 10,000m gold to complete family hat-trick

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