S
Stuart Weir
Guest
The Women’s 5000m, photo by Team England
An exciting 5K
Probably the biggest disappointment for local athletics fans supporting the Commonwealth Games was the withdrawal through injury of Eilish McColgan, which denied her the opportunity to defend her 2022 title in the 10K. Moreover, to do it in Scotland.
Laura Muir, Innes Fitzgerald, CG 5000 meters, photo by Team England
As reported earlier, the 10K had been an epic race with the Australian Rose Davies winning. The 5K saw Davies attempting an unlikely double. For the home crowd there was a young pretender, Megan Keith, and intriguingly the queen of Scottish middle distance, Laura Muir, stepping to the line in the longer distance.
Women’s 5k, with train, photo by Team England
At the other end of her career there was 20-year-old Innes FitzGerald, European under 20 champion at 5K and in cross country. Then there was Jess Hull; we clearly find the days in Glasgow drag. Having qualified for the final of the mile in the morning, she set out in the 5K in the evening!
W 5000m, CG 2026, photo by Scottish Athletics
Some questions were quickly answered. Laura Muir was never in the race, finishing 16th in 15:19.75, the third Scot to finish; one wonders when that last happened.
Hannah Nuttall, Laura Muir, W5000m final, CG 2026, photo by Scottish Athletics
FitzGerald, similarly, never got beyond the middle of the pack, finishing 11th in 15:02.80.
Jess Hull, silver, Megan Keith, bronze, W5000m, photo by Scottish Athletics
Megan Keith looked strong and took the lead with three laps to go. She had Australian company, with Rose Davies completing a unique 5/10K Commonwealth double.
Megan Keith, Scottish bronze medalist, 5k, photos by Scottish Athletics
Jess Hull showed no ill effects of her morning exertions to be second, with Megan Keith holding on for third, as follows:
1 Rose Davies 14:44.53
2 Jess Hull 14:45.01
3 Megan Keith 14:49.01
The moment of realization: Megan Keith, bronze medalist, photo by Scottish Athletics