Sarah Tait is the new 3000m steeplechase Scottish record holder Not only does Scottish track athlete Sarah Tait boast Eilish McColgan as one of her mentors but she also has taken one of her records. The 24-year-old broke McColgan's 12-year Scottish record in the 3000m steeplechase at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition in Oregon last month. Her form earned her a place on the Great Britain team for the European Athletics Team Championships, where she finishedsecond in the same event on her international debut. Now Tait, who came through at Lasswade Athletics Club but is based in the United States, has set her sights on next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and a first Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. "I went to watch some of my teammates in Paris last year and I thought it was absolutely amazing what they were doing," Tait told BBC Scotland. "I would love to be there one day, but I didn't think quite how realistic it would be and then just this year I am like: 'Do you know what, I am actually really close'. "In a few year's time, I definitely believe that will be possible." "I have this new found belief in myself and that is definitely credit to my training group in the US and my training partners as well." Tait was the first recipient of McColgan's 'Giving Back to Track' programme, which was set up three years ago to help young women make their way in athletics. After plenty of support and encouragement, Tait says breaking her mentor's record was something she had targeted for a while. "Eilish has supported and mentored me for a good few years now and she always said she thought I would be the one who would take her record down," she revealed. "Eilish really took me under her wing. I am still in touch with her now, we still go back and forth. She always sends me a congratulations message, she is always there to support me and I am really grateful for everything she has done for me." Having just completed her studies at West Virginia University, Tait admits she is "still figuring things out" in terms of where she is going to base herself as she prepares for next summer's Commonwealth Games, which she says is her "priority". As a 13-year-old, Tait went to watch the athletics at Hampden Park when the games last visited the city in 2014. "I just can't wait to hopefully be a part of it and be part of inspiring the next generation because that was me sitting in the stands watching - so I really hope that can be me on the start line this time," she added.
McColgan prodigy Tait sets sights on Olympics
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"Scottish Athlete Sarah Tait Breaks Steeplechase Record and Eyes Future Olympic Goals"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Sarah Tait, a rising star in Scottish athletics, has made headlines by breaking the 12-year Scottish record in the 3000m steeplechase, previously held by her mentor Eilish McColgan. Tait achieved this milestone during the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition in Oregon last month, showcasing her remarkable talent and determination. Following her record-breaking performance, she earned a spot on the Great Britain team for the European Athletics Team Championships, where she impressively secured a second-place finish in her international debut. Tait's journey in athletics began at Lasswade Athletics Club, and she is currently based in the United States, where she has been honing her skills and preparing for future competitions. With her sights firmly set on the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Tait expresses an invigorated belief in her potential to compete at the highest levels of the sport.
In her reflections on her athletic journey, Tait credits Eilish McColgan's mentorship and the support from her training group in the U.S. for her newfound confidence. McColgan's 'Giving Back to Track' program, designed to assist young female athletes, played a pivotal role in Tait's development, providing her with guidance and encouragement over the years. Tait has expressed gratitude for McColgan's support, revealing that her mentor had always believed she would eventually break the record. As she transitions from her studies at West Virginia University, Tait is focused on her immediate goal of competing in the Commonwealth Games, an event she has long dreamed of participating in since attending the games in 2014. Tait hopes to inspire the next generation of athletes, much like she was inspired as a young spectator, and is determined to take her place on the start line in Glasgow next summer.
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