Eilish McColgan targets fourth Olympics and step up to marathon

Eilish McColgan aims to become the first Scottish track and field athlete to compete at four Olympics.

The 29-year-old middle-distance runner plans to make her third appearance in the 5,000m at next summer's Tokyo Olympic  Games, having already achieved a qualifying time. She will then switch focus to the marathon distance as she bids to make Paris 2024. 

"It's a scary prospect but it's always been something I've wanted to do," said McColgan of the step up to marathon.

McColgan competed in the steeplechase at London 2012 and reached the 5,000m final in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro. 

With a  European silver medal over the 5000m distance, she also broke her mother's Scottish 10-mile record (Liz McColgan) in winning  the Great South Run in October last year. She may look to use the marathon at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham as a stepping stone for Paris two years later.