STV NewsEililsh McColgan said she was “obviously disappointed” after learning that her new European and British records set at the Great Scottish Run had been quashed.
Race organisers announced on Monday that they had discovered the course was 150 metres short, citing “human error” for the discrepancy.
She finished the Glasgow race on October 2 in 30 minutes and 18 seconds, beating her previous record mark by one second.
But that result is now invalid after organisers said the course was “not laid out in line with the previously agreed plans”.
McColgan still holds the European and British 10k records, which she set at the Great Manchester 10K earlier this year.
The Great Scottish Run earlier this month started at George Square in the city centre and ended at Glasgow Green.
Google EarthThe route was meant to feature a section where runners turned right from Paisley Road West onto Harvie Street, followed by a right onto Brand Street, and then left onto Lorne Street.
However, they turned directly onto Lorne Street. It is this discrepancy that led to the race being 150 metres too short.
The Great Run Company launched an investigation after some runners sent in digital tracking that suggested there was an issue.
Google MapsOrganisers have been in touch with McColgan directly to explain and apologise, saying there is “no excuse” for the incident and are offering those who took part a 10% discount on entry to the 2023 event..
It was the first time the event had returned since 2019.
Retweeting STV Sport, McColgan said: “Obviously disappointed with this news, but these things happen!
“Thankfully my British and European Record still stands from the Great Manchester 10K. So it’s all good!”
Paul Foster, chief executive of the Great Run Company, explained that an area of the course was not laid out in line with previously agreed plans.
In a statement, he said the organisation is “extremely disappointed” about the error.
He said: “We were recently made aware of a discrepancy with the 10k course at this year’s Great Scottish Run. Following an internal investigation, we have established it was 150 metres short.
“The shortfall in the distance was wholly due to human error. An area of the course was not laid out in line with the previously agreed plans.
“This error had a marginal knock-on to the half marathon but it was within tolerance and the course on the day was valid.
Google Earth“We’re extremely disappointed that this happened at the 10K, on what was an incredibly positive return to the city for the Great Scottish Run following the pandemic.
“We will be reviewing our internal processes to ensure we cannot make this mistake again.
“We know we’ve let our customers down on this occasion. There are no excuses for this happening and we’re very sorry.”
STV NewsThe error had a “marginal” knock on to the half marathon, they said, but that it was “within tolerance”, with the course on the day valid.
It is the second time there has been a discrepancy of the distance of the run, after it came up short by 149.7 metres in 2016.
The error saw Callum Hawkins lose the Scottish half-marathon record he set at the event.
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