OLYMPIC 5000 metres finalist Eilish McColgan has won an appeal against her exclusion from Lottery funding in 2017 after it was revealed she has been added to UK Athletics world-class performance programme list.
The 26-year-old Dundonian had immediately declared her intention to demand a review of the initial decision, arguing she had met the published standard of coming inside the world’s top 16 following her 13th place finish at Rio 2016 while also ducking under the qualifying mark of 15 minutes and 25 seconds five times – and coming sixth in the European Championship final - in her debut campaign at the distance.
And following a return from missing all of 2015 due to ankle surgery that has also seen the Scot sit top of the British 10k rankings, a UKA review panel has determined that McColgan should be added to the second-tier Podium Potential funding list.
“Obviously I'm really happy that my appeal was successful,” she said. “Naturally I was disappointed when not included on the original World Class Performance Programme last month as I felt I did everything I could this year after injury and hit all the necessary criteria. It's nice for that to have been recognised.
“I look forward to being a part of the WCPP and hope to continue improving in the 5000m, which is still a new event for me, throughout the next year looking towards London 2017 and beyond.”
Meanwhile Mo Farah has confirmed he will follow up his 2017 debut at next month’s Great Edinburgh International cross-country by running a yet-to-be-determined distance at the Muller Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham on 18 February.
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