Olympics 2024: Eilish McColgan eyes LA marathon after settting record

McColgan’s focus will now likely turn to road racing.

She made an aborted attempt to switch after winning Commonwealth Games gold and silver and European silver and bronze on the track in 2022, before she was bedeviled by injury.

But now she will try again, with a fifth Olympics in Los Angeles in her sights.

“LA is off the agenda in terms of track,” she confirmed. “It would realistically be a marathon.”

While that Games would be a farewell for McColgan, it might allow Megan Keith to exorcise a few demons after her Olympic debut ended with her being helped from the track by medical staff.

The 22-year-old from Inverness and Alessia Zarbo were cut adrift early and, after the French athlete pulled out, Keith ran most of the race on her own.

After being lapped by the rest of the field, she started her final circuit after everyone else had finished but was cheered round by the sympathetic crowd.

“That was the hardest 25 laps ever,” said Keith, who posted a time of 33:19.92. “I was happy to make the start line and even happier to make the finish line.

“Even though I came last, I’m proud to be here as an Olympian.”