Inverness Harriers life member Megan Keith seals spot at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris after victory at the Night of 10,000 PBs in London
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Megan Keith is going to the 2024 Olympic games.
The 22-year-old put in a stellar performance at the Night of 10,000 PBs in London, which doubled up as the UK Olympic trials, to seal her place at the pinnacle of athletics in Paris.
Keith only needed to finish as one of the top two Brits, but pipped US runner Fiona O’Keefe just metres before the finishing line to win the race outright.
Having already secured the qualifying time, Keith could also celebrate her spot at the Olympics along with the title.
Racing in Inverness Harriers colours, she was always in the leading pack, remaining patient knowing that she did not have to push the pace and could focus entirely on being one of the first two Brits across the line.
Moving into first place in the last 2000m, Keith had to battle for the victory ahead of O’Keefe but got there thanks to one last push on the final straight at Parliament Hill, recording a time of 31:03.01.
That was a full 33 seconds ahead of the next fastest Brit, Jessica Warner-Judd, who is expected to make it to the Olympics over both the 5000m and 10,000m.
Athletes need to run quicker than 30:40.00 over the 10km distance to become eligible for selection at this summer’s event.
Keith had already achieved the Olympic qualifying time in California back in March, putting her in contention to represent Team GB in Paris.
She then went on to pass the qualifying mark over 5000m last month at a Diamond League meeting in Shanghai.
The final Team GB athletics squads will be confirmed at the end of June after the UK Championships in Manchester, but Keith can already start planning for Paris this summer.
Moments after crossing the finishing line, she told the BBC: “I knew I had a shot at it, but with 200m metres to go I thought the American girl had got the best of me.
“I rounded the bend and the crowd just went absolutely insane, and I think they got me over the line. I’m so happy.
“The atmosphere was incredible. It took a lot for me not to go to the front earlier, because I like being at the front, so it was hard to sit in there. I thought I might have gone too soon, but the crowd carried me.
“Because I had the time, I knew I didn’t need to push the pace, but I also wanted to go for the long run because that’s my strength, and because I was so excited with this crowd.
“I’m just so happy. I didn’t think I would be doing 10k’s for a long time yet, so this wasn’t part of the plan but we’re just rolling with it. Hopefully the good times keep coming.”
On winning in a sprint finish, Keith added: “Winning gives me confidence, but also the way I won. I’m well aware that normally my sprint finish is my weak point - people tell me that and I know that myself - so it was almost proving to myself that I could do it.
“I wasn’t expecting to get to the line first. If you had told me with a lap to go I wouldn’t have thought so, but I’m very happy with how it played out.
“Now I’m just going to enjoy the moment to be honest. Two months is a long time, so I’m excited but I also want to have a reset and enjoy it.”
