Eilish McColgan and Megan Keith Shine at the Paris Olympics

Eilish McColgan and Megan Keith made waves at the recent Olympics held in Paris. Eilish, a seasoned athlete, wrapped her arms around her younger teammate Megan after a challenging race in the Women’s 10,000m final.

This moment was especially significant for Eilish as she became the first Scottish athlete in track and field to compete in four Olympic Games, a milestone she reached a dozen years after her first appearance in London 2012.

Despite a tough build-up and limited racing opportunities in the past year, Eilish managed to finish in 15th place with a time of 31:20.51, making her the third European across the line in a large field of 25 competitors.

Megan, on the other hand, faced her own challenges, dealing with an ankle injury leading up to this critical event. She completed the race in 33:19.92 for 23rd place, ending her final lap alone but filled with emotion as she crossed the finish line.

After the race, Eilish emphasized her pride, saying, “I was obviously lacking in races… but I’m proud of myself. I made the start line and I finished it.” She expressed her disappointment at not keeping up with the lead pack but remained proud of her effort.

Megan echoed those sentiments, stating, “That was the hardest 25 laps ever… but I’m proud to be here as an Olympian.” Her performance at this event marked a significant milestone, as she became the first athlete from her running club, Inverness Harriers, to compete in the Olympics.

To celebrate this remarkable achievement, Inverness Harriers organized a watch party at Fairways Golf Centre. Club members and supporters wore their maroon and gold colors, excitedly cheering Megan on as she raced.

Charles Bannerman, a long-serving member of the club, noted how proud everyone was. Despite Megan’s struggles with an injury, he said, “This was a great moment for Inverness Harriers and a great moment for athletics in the north.”

Coaches and community members described Megan as a role model, with young athletes looking up to her and aspiring to follow in her footsteps. The strong sense of community and support was evident as they rooted for her during the race.