‘You see via social media that so many people are in your corner and I appreciate that support’ – Jake

Monday 6th January 2025

Photo by Simon Wootton

Back with a bang: Jake wins Scottish 3000m title with Championship Best run at Emirates

Jake Wightman bridged a ten-year gap in terms of Scottish titles with that fine comeback race victory at the Emirates Arena last Saturday.

And the 2022 World champion took time to highlight the efforts by so many volunteers to create the Scottish pathway which has seen our elite athletes win multiple medals over the past decade.

Jake clocked 7:44.94 to win the Men’s 3000m gold at the Miler Meet organised by the Glasgow Athletics Association.

It was his first outing since last June and he immediately set his sights on a March double – with the European Indoors in Holland and the World Indoors in China firmly on his radar.

Ten years ago a trip to Aberdeen harvested 800m gold in August 2015.

The intervening years have seen him win medals at Commonwealth, European and World level. But Jake never forgets his roots.

‘When I came out onto the track at the Emirates Arena on Saturday for that 3000m race, there were so many faces I knew and recognized,’ Jake told us,

‘Even seeing someone like Janice Hendrie giving out numbers – Janice was a team manager when I was first picked for Scottish Schools.

‘It feels like it (the athletics scene in Scotland) has not changed.  I’ve changed, I’ve grown up and I’ve lived in London and in now in Manchester.

‘But people are still serving the sport brilliantly in Scotland and making it happen year after year. You realise through social media how many folk are in your corner and backing you and I really appreciated that support.

‘Are there clear examples of the Scottish pathway working? I would say, yes, definitely.

‘It was nice to be back and see so many familiar faces around the Emirates.

‘I’ve hardly even raced here before. I spoke to some of the younger lads – I think they were U17 – as we warmed down. I mentioned my indoor career growing up had mainly been at the old Kelvin Hall venue in Glasgow. But they didn’t know what I was talking about!’

Flashback . . . August 2015 and Jake wins Scottish 800m title in Abedeen (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Chasing medals at all levels is now Jake’s goal. He missed the European Champs last summer as hoped to prioritise the Olympics. He also missed the British Champs.

‘When you race, you want to get wins . . . that’s why I…