Four years ago, Megan Keith made the most lacklustre of attempts to make it into Team Scotland’s squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Such was her lack of belief, or desire, to force her way into the reckoning for Birmingham 2022, she entered only one race in an attempt to run the qualifying standard.
Four years later, Keith is not only included in Team Scotland’s track and field squad for Glasgow 2026, she’s one of the most recognisable names in Scotland’s 39-strong athletics squad.
Her enhanced reputation has been well-earned.
In the past four years, Keith has transformed herself from a cross-country specialist into an track Olympian, European medallist and Scottish record holder. Her ascent has, she admits, surprised even herself and even though she’s got a typical athlete’s mindset of always looking forwards, the 24-year-old from Inverness does, occasionally, force herself to reflect upon what can only be called her transformation as an athlete.
“When I look back to four years ago for the previous Commonwealth Games, I made a very half-hearted attempt to make it to Birmingham. I did one 5K, and I actually wasn't a million miles off making the standard, but after that I just went back to my usual summer activities,” she recalls.
“So the turnaround in one Commonwealth cycle is mad.
“I do try and make myself step back and reflect. But because I don't see what I'm doing as anything crazy, I do sometimes have to force myself to stop and remember that I'm doing cool stuff.”
Keith’s rise into the elite ranks, and particularly her exceptional form this year, has ensured the Edinburgh University athlete is one of the stand-out names heading to Glasgow 2026.
A European 10k record on the road in February was followed by a Scottish 3000m record on the track last month and so Keith heads into this Commonwealth Games in possession of an athlete’s of the most treasured qualities; momentum.
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And while she’s not deployed any particular tactic to start this wave of momentum upon which she’s riding, she’s well aware of its value.
“I definitely think running is a lot about momentum which is important because the level, globally, of women’s distance running is just so high,” says Keith, who is supported by Edinburgh Uni’s Elite Performance programme.
“I feel like the level of women's distance running is like house prices - you think it can go no higher, and then it does. Everyone just keeps getting faster and faster and you do wonder when's it going to stop.
“I'm under no illusions about being untouchable or anything like that, because I definitely have lots of things to work on but I think momentum is the most precious thing in sport. When you get onto a positive run, it feels like it'll never end.
“It does end, one way or another, because momentum is so fragile but it's really nice when you're riding that wave.
“The thing with confidence is you have to let it come to you, and then just not make any silly, sudden changes because that's when things can go wrong. A lot of it is about doing the basics right, it’s not like there's any big secret.
“It's the boring stuff which builds up and eventually becomes momentum.”
At Glasgow 2026, Keith will race both the 5000m and the 10,000m.
Doubling-up is a new adventure for Keith who, so far, has chosen one or the other distance at the major championships in which she’s competed. But the lure of the home crowd at Scotstoun Stadium, where the track and field for this Commonwealth Games will take place, was just too great for Keith to resist.
The Scot’s recent form means she’s being talked about as one of the leading contenders over both distances but the Scot is in little doubt as to how strong the competition in both races will be.
“I'm excited to do the double - I’ve not done it before but the schedule makes it possible in Glasgow,” she says.
“I'm so excited for the Scotstoun crowd, and that's why I wanted to go twice.
“Kenya always has a great team, so the standard is going to be high. I don't like putting goals on myself, but I think if I got it right, I could be somewhere near the front. I feel like I can go faster than I ever have, so I feel in a really good position.”
Joining Keith on the start-line of the 10,000m will be her compatriot and defending Commonwealth champion, Eilish McColgan.
Following McColgan’s move onto the roads, some observers have lined Keith up as a ready-made replacement for her elder teammate but any talk of that is, stresses Keith, premature.
And while she admits the dream scenario would be for herself and McColgan to be battling for gold down he home straight at Scotstoun Stadium, Keith is quick to remind everyone that McColgan is the one who has the far greater pedigree.
"It would be very cool if Eilish and I were going down the home straight together in contention for a medal,” she says.
“People have said that I'm going to take over from Eilish, but Eilish will be there trying to defend her medal, and we know how good she is. But it would be nice to not be the only Scottish person going after a medal because we can share the pressure.
“But I think the pressure on me is slightly misinformed because some people seem to have forgotten that Eilish is still incredibly good at 10,000m - just because she’s been breaking records on the road, she's still an unbelievable track runner. But I'm definitely excited to see how Glasgow will turn out.”
