Eilish McColgan has withdrawn from Sunday’s London Marathon after the Scottish athlete suffering a knee injury in the build-up to the race.
The 32-year-old had been eagerly anticipating her debut in the long-distance race but, after receiving treatment in the past few days, has accepted she is not able to compete in the race her mother Liz won in 1996.
McColgan has enjoyed huge success this season, setting a new British 10,000m record in March and breaking her own British half-marathon record in Berlin in April.
The Scot said she was disappointed to be missing out but hoped to race in the event in the future.
“Unfortunately, my knee hasn’t improved as much as I wanted it to,” McColgan said.
“I was hopeful I could participate after some knee burstitis I had in February – I could run through that and I have tried to run through this but it has got to the point where it isn’t feasible to run a marathon.
“There have been a few factors that have come together like a bad storm in the past three weeks and the knee issue was the final crack in the armour.
“I’m disappointed and I know I’m ready to run a good marathon. That is what makes it hard not to be there on the start line.
“As an athlete I wanted to compete but I’m a firm believer that these things happen for a reason.
“There will be another London Marathon in the future where, hopefully, I will be able to perform well.”
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