EILISH MCCOLGAN has powered her way into second place on the Scottish all-time list for the 10K.
The 2012 and 2016 Olympian is re-writing her personal bests and came up with 31.56 (chip time) in the Ooreedo Doha 10K, despite an early-morning rise.
Now only her mother and coach, Liz, stands between the young runner and the record.
It also means Eilish is now 10th-equal on the British all-time list as she starts 2017 in great form.
She said: "Getting up at 4.30am was a bit of a shock to the system but happy to come away with 31.56 official chip time at Ooreedo Doha 10K,’ she said, with 32.01 the gun time given for the Scot.
"Tired legs but great to kick off 2017."
Meanwhile, back in Scotland, the Emirates Arena packed with track and field competitors is always a sight to gladden hearts in the athletics community – and that’s what greeted observers for a number of hours on Saturday.
The National Open has become a hugely popular event with many athletes as the start of their indoor season. With no medals on offer, it is all about participation and performances as athletes and coaches chase PBs and good signs for later in the day.
There was both of the above in spades on Saturday with sprint PBs notable for the likes of Allan Hamilton and Alisha Rees while 40 heats listed in the 200m says it all about the numbers involved – with 700 or so overall on start-lists.
"There were some good performances on Saturday and the National Open is the kind of event that bridges the full spectrum of track and field – it is about athletes of all ages and stages," said athletics performance director Rodger Harkins.
"In terms of some of the sprinters, like Allan Hamilton and Alisha Rees, it was good to see them coming out and getting PBs right away – that’s a great sign.
"Allan just headed a good race in the 60m, with Cameron Tindle not far off his indoor PB, also. Alisha took a slice off her PB going from 7.65 down to 7.59 which is encouraging looking ahead to the marks she needs in the summer for the European U20s.
"So I think for a few athletes there were indications of hard work having been put in over the winter by them and their coaches."
Hamilton headed Cameron Tindle in an exciting 60m showdown, with Allan nicking a PB of 6.77 by one hundredth of a second. Tindle was at 6.90 and there was a PB also for Grant Plenderleith in third. Grant followed that up with a 200m win in the top heat with 21.56.
Rees was another athlete celebrating a PB with a good run of 7.59 – bringing her time down from 7.65 previously. Alisha then clocked 24.47 in the 200m.
There were wins for Jake Wightman at 800m in 1.50.22, Jade Nimmo at the 60m Hurdles in 8.87 and Cumbernauld AAC athlete Lewis Brown demonstrated his 400m potential with 48.73 as he edged out Greg Louden (49.12) and Anthony Young (49.40) – seventh equal best on the all-time list at U20.
Kilbarchan AAC athlete Jemma Reekie has caught the attention recently with a Scottish U20 indoor record at 3000m and then her last-leg run in the International Relay at Holyrood. On Saturday, she followed that up with an overall PB for the 1500m at 4.21.57 – and that is fourth on the all-time list for U20 at 1500m indoors for women.
In the field, Jax Thoirs was at 5.15m in the pole vault and there was a 5kg shot debut for Finbar Dunne with 11.63m. And there was a really good PB for Aidan Quinn in the triple jump to reach 14.20m for sixth place on the all-time list indoors at U20.
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