Eilish McColgan moved to fifth on the European all-time 10,000m list with a gun-to-tape 30:19.02 performance at the FBK Games in blustery and drizzly conditions in Hengelo on Monday (6) afternoon, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting.
McColgan set out with real intent to break Paula Radcliffe’s long-standing British record of 30:01.09. The European 5000m silver medallist was on this pace through halfway in 15:00.75 but in deteriorating conditions and with nobody else to race against with the rest of the field more than half-a-lap in arrears, McColgan gradually slipped off record pace in the second half.
However, her winning time of 30:19.02 shattered the Scottish record set by her mother Liz at 30:57.07 on his track in 1991 and makes her the fifth fastest European in history behind Sifan Hassan (29:06.82), Radcliffe (30:01.09), Lornah Kiplagat (30:12.53) and Ingrid Kristiansen (30:13.74), all of whom won global titles in their esteemed careers.
And McColgan defeated all of the top Ethiopians who were content to run for places with the 10,000m doubling up as their official trial race for the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. Almost 200 metres behind McColgan’s solo effort, world record-holder Letesenbet Gidey was a distant second in 30:44.27, followed home by Ejgayehu Taye in 30:44.68.
McColgan described the race as “the hardest race I’ve ever done in my life” and while she was pleased with her performance, she was hoping to break the coveted 30 minute-barrier and the British record with it.
"I had to make a switch mentally because I expected that the Ethiopian girls would come along. I really wanted to break the national record, and run a 29 [minute time] but overall I'm happy with the result," she said.
Duplantis takes world lead with 6.01m; Bol eases to meeting record in the 400m hurdles
Olympic champion Armand Duplantis cleared a world lead of 6.01m in the pole vault on his first attempt but in far from ideal conditions, the Swede opted against trying to improve his meeting record of 6.10m which was set last year.
“This is my second home! Hengelo is a perfect place to jump. The track is fast, the run-up is good, the wind is nearly always good. Mother nature was just not in a good mood today. I had to use smaller poles and I could not grip as high as I would,” said Duplantis.
Duplantis recorded a perfect card of four first-time clearances from as many heights and he won by 31 centimetres from Rutger Koppelaar from the Netherlands.
Femke Bol was similarly dominant in the 400m hurdles which closed the programme. The Olympic bronze medallist looked in complete control as she improved her meeting record from 54.33 to 53.94 to win by almost two seconds from fellow Olympic finalist Hanna Ryzhykova from Ukraine in 55.62.
“It was my first 400 hurdles race this season so that is always a little bit scary and for a home crowd you want to execute and show the best of yourself. I am very satisfied, I am fit and in shape.
“On the weather, my coach told me to just enjoy and focus on my race and not to let myself get distracted, and that is what I did,” said Bol, who races again in Rome on Thursday evening.
Full results here.