Eilish McColgan hopes Commonwealth Games organisers will have a rethink on the decision not to include the marathon in next year’s athletics programme but says she is keen to compete in Glasgow regardless.
The Scot won the 10,000m and took bronze in the 5000m at the previous Games in Birmingham in 2022 and also competed at Glasgow 2014 in the steeplechase and says it will be “special” to compete on home soil again next summer.
McColgan, though, sees herself more as a road than track athlete these days and will make her 26-mile debut at the TCS London Marathon in April.
That event hasn’t been included in the stripped-back Glasgow 2026 Games but McColgan hopes it isn’t too late for the decision to be reversed.
She said: “It's a shame there's no marathon there as I would have loved to have had a Commonwealth Games marathon in Glasgow.
“I know they said it was too expensive to shut roads but I'd hoped maybe there could be some sort of collaboration with the Great Scottish Run there.
“That would have been great for Scotland to have some sort of event there with the Commonwealth Games as part of that.
“I understand there are difficulties. It’s not just as easy as saying, ‘we’ll pop on race’. It takes a lot of resources and money. But it would nice if they collaborate with another brand, maybe one already hosting road races.
“I’m definitely interested in speaking to the right people if that’s what it takes. I think there could be a solution around it in some way.
“But if there’s not and it means I need to go on the track, then you’re probably going to see me on the track. I don’t want to miss an opportunity to be in Glasgow. It’s very different competing in Scotland and we don’t get many opportunities to do that.
“At Glasgow 2014, the atmosphere was pretty incredible. And even more so in Birmingham because I was up at the front and winning a medal. That will be the stand-out moment for me in my entire career. So, the Commonwealth Games does mean a lot to me.
“I will be a special thing for me to be in Glasgow competing. If I feel I’m in shape to do you’ll see me there. I’d love to be there in some capacity. And if it means making an appearance back on the track then I might be persuaded back just for that one event.”
