McColgan battling foot fracture to make home Games

Scotland’s Eilish McColgan is giving herself “every opportunity” to defend her Commonwealth Games 10,000m title in her home country on Monday as she recovers from a foot fracture, says mother and coach Liz.

McColgan, 35, emulated her mum by roaring to gold in Birmingham four years ago in one of the most iconic moments of that event.

In an injury-scarred spell since then, she transitioned to road racing but committed to returning to the track so she can compete at a second home Games in Glasgow after doing the steeplechase in 2014.

However, battling through a gruesome toe injury in April’s London Marathon led to an undetected stress fracture, which has cast McColgan’s participation in Monday’s historic mile event at Scotstoun in serious doubt.

The Dundonian is back in full training and is determined to race, but her team are still being cautious about her chances of making the start line.

“Eilish wants to be in Glasgow. She wants to compete. She’s the reigning champion and she’s given herself every opportunity to be on that start line,” McColgan told BBC Sport.

“I’d be lying if I said we’re 100% definitely going to race because she still has a couple of sessions that we need to run to make sure that everything’s okay, like getting spikes on.

“We’re trying our hardest to put everything in place for her to be able to achieve what she wants to do.

“I know if Eilish is standing on that start line, she will give it 100%. It’d be great for her to be – like I was – a double gold medal winner, but we’re just making sure everything’s all right for her.”