3 minute read
News: Beth Potter
Fully 14 years ago a young school-girl by the name of Beth Potter was a Record breaker – with a run of 4:34 taking down the Scottish Schools U16 Indoor best for 1500m.
It is a mark which stands to this day and the then Bearsden Academy pupil is also listed among the outdoor records for a 1500m performance at U17 the following year (2008).
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Fast forward eight years from the second of those track runs and, in February 2016, Beth claimed the Lindsays National XC title at Falkirk for the second time and was en route to an appearance at the Olympics in Rio.
So while there’s no dispute that a stunning 14:41 5k road run at the Podium 5k event in Barrowford, Lancashire, in March shocked many in athletics – including the 29-year-old herself – calling the triathlete’s calibre into question definitely seemed grossly unfair. The Scot’s time eclipses the 14:43 posted by Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkeoch as the global mark and the 14:51 held by Paula Radcliffe as the British Record.
Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, Beth’s performance may not be ratified as the World and British Records. There Regardless of how all the paperwork arguments unfold, Beth’s performance underlined her fitness and form after many years of dedication. She has spent the last four years training full-time as a triathlete and made history by ‘doubling up’ in two sports at the 2018 Commonwealths in Australia.
‘I do 25 to 30 hours of training a week and I have done for four years,’ she said, with much of the focus in the aftermath of her performance on her footwear.
‘The shoes help, but everyone has access to them. You have to work hard and be talented. Technology moves on.’
Nonetheless, she was surprised on the night as immediate post-race photos display.
‘I was convinced that the guy giving out split times was at the wrong marker, reflected Beth.
‘All the split times were a number lower than I expected - eight minutes when it should have been nine - so I was like: ‘What is going on here? This is mental’.
‘Entering the final lap I knew I had about one kilometre to go and the clock said 11.30-something. I thought they just hadn’t started the clock at the right time.’
Five Indoor Records approved
Three top Scottish athletes have already made their mark on 2021 with Senior National Records now approved by scottishathletics.
Our most recent Board meeting rubberstamped Records approved for ratification by our Track and Field Commission.
Andy Butchart and Jake Wightman both broke Scottish Indoor records on the track over 3000m and 1500m in January and February respectively while Laura Muir took down the British Record for Women’s 1500m.
In total, there are five new Records now being added to the all-time books with strong performances indoors also from Joe Ewing for the U20 1500m best and Zoey Clark for a 400m Native Record. development over the years.
Senior Men 3000m Indoor – 7:40.85 Andrew Butchart (Central AC), Karlsruhe, Germany, 29 January 2021. World Athletics Indoor Tour – Gold Standard. Previous record: 7:41.05, Butchart, 2017)
Senior Women 1500m Indoor – 3:59.58 Laura Muir (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers), Lievin, France, 9 February 2021. World Athletics Indoor Tour – Gold Standard. Previous record: 4:00.52, Jemma Reekie, 2020)
Senior Men 1500m Indoor – 3:34.48 Jake Wightman (Edinburgh AC), New York, USA, 13 February 2021. World Athletics Indoor Tour – Gold Standard. Previous record: 3:35.72, Josh Kerr, 2019)
U20 Men 1500m Indoor – 3:47.98, Joe Ewing (Edinburgh AC), Glasgow, 6 February 2021. 4J Studios Scottish Athletics Invitational. Previous record: 3:50.77, Ross Toole, 2005.
Scottish Native Record 400m Indoor – 52.03, Zoey Clark (Aberdeen AAC), Glasgow, 6th February 2021. 4J Studios Scottish Athletics Invitational. Previous record: 52.38 Eilidh Doyle, 2018.
