Eilish McColgan Eyes Great North Run Glory
The Great North Run is once again taking center stage this weekend, and all eyes are on Scotland’s Eilish McColgan. At 34, she’s stepping up to the line with unfinished business, hoping this will finally be her year. Twice she has come agonizingly close to victory, and twice she’s had to settle for second best. For her, this isn’t just another race — it’s a chance to create her own piece of history on the same course where her mother, the legendary Liz McColgan, once reigned supreme.
Last year, Eilish managed to surpass her mum’s best ever time on the iconic route from Newcastle to South Shields, proving she has both the talent and determination to carve out her own legacy. Yet, even with that achievement, victory slipped away. Back in 2021, she was edged out by just five seconds in one of the most dramatic finishes the event has seen, with six athletes storming down the stretch in a head-to-head sprint. Those memories are still fresh, and the hunger to finally cross that line first has only grown stronger.
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She’s made no secret of her ambition. As she told BBC Sport, winning the Great North Run has been a dream since childhood. She grew up watching the race, inspired not only by her mother’s triumphs but also by the parade of legends who etched their names into its history. “Everyone would love to win. It’s such an iconic race,” she admitted. “I’ve been so close both times. Ultimately, I’d love to go there and take the win — it would be amazing. But I am very aware that the field is always really strong.”
And strong it will be. Lining up alongside McColgan are some of the world’s best long-distance runners. Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui, fresh off her New York Marathon victory, will bring formidable speed and endurance. Two-time Great North Run champion Vivian Cheruiyot is also back, determined to reclaim her crown. With such competition, McColgan knows that nothing can be taken for granted.
But this race is about more than elite athletes chasing victory. It’s about 60,000 runners, each with their own story, pounding the roads from city to sea. It’s about a tradition that began in 1981 with a rebellious idea from Sir Brendan Foster and has since grown into the largest half-marathon in the world. On Sunday morning, as the Red Arrows roar above the Tyne Bridge and the crowds line the streets, every competitor will be chasing a finish line that represents much more than 13.1 miles.
For McColgan, though, it is deeply personal. To finally win here would not only fulfill a lifelong ambition but also connect her triumph to a family legacy already written into the event’s history. She has the form, the determination, and the experience of being heartbreakingly close. Now, all that remains is to see if third time really will be the charm.
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