McColgan delivered a sensational performance on her long-awaited marathon debut as she stormed to a 2:24:25 finish at the London Marathon — setting a new Scottish record and bettering her mum Liz’s best in the process.
The Dundee-born athlete produced a gutsy and composed run to surpass the long-standing achievement set by her mother, who clocked 2:26:52 back in 1997. In doing so, McColgan shaved more than two minutes off the mark and completed an emotional family milestone on the streets of the capital.
The 34-year-old reigning Commonwealth 10,000 metres champion was the fastest British finisher in the women’s race, finishing two minutes and 15 seconds faster than Stephanie Twell’s previous Scottish marker of 2:26:40, set in Frankfurt six years ago.
It has been a marathon journey just to get to this point. McColgan first announced her plans to step up to the 26.2-mile distance several years ago, but injury setbacks delayed her debut — with her hopes of running in 2023 and 2024 both dashed by physical problems.
Finally, after a patient and persistent build-up, she took to the start line in London on Sunday morning — and made it a day to remember.
McColgan finished eighth overall in the women’s elite race, with Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa taking the victory.
