Eilish McColgan has set a UK 5km record of 14:45 at the ASICS META:TIME:TRIALS in Malaga.
She bettered her own 5km mark of 14:48 from the UAE back in February and Paula Radcliffe’s 14:51, set at Hyde Park in 2003, while McColgan is also close behind Sifan Hassan’s European 5km record of 14:44.
The Scot’s run in Malaga is the second fastest time set by a Brit over 5km after Beth Potter ran 14:41 at Barrowford last year. The time was recognised by World Athletics but never officially ratified as a record because there weren’t any drugs testers present.
It was likely that the 31-year-old would get close to the record given the flat Spanish course was specifically chosen by ASICS to break personal bests.
“It was a lot of fun today,” McColgan said. “I struggled a little bit at the top because I’m like a giraffe and my legs are a little too long to go round those corners but I felt like I got really good speed and momentum down the straight. By the end of the summer I’d like to break 14:40.
“At the very start of March I caught Covid and I was so surprised on how it floored me. I just thought I’m young and healthy enough but my running took a chunk of time coming back. It’s only been the last 10 days where I’ve felt like I’m getting back to normal and this was a good event to start on the roads. There was a bit less pressure on the roads time wise compared to the track and I’ve hopefully got a good summer ahead.
“We’re obviously in a new generation when it comes to shoes and that obviously translates into records across all distances. I’ve been trying the prototypes over the past year. There’s no better feeling racing the Metaspeed Sky on race day.”
Elsewhere, Welsh half-marathon record holder Charlotte Arter finished fifth in 15:43 and Mohamed Katir came within two seconds of Jimmy Gressier’s European 5km record of 13:18.
Full results can be found here.
