Tait was the first recipient of McColgan’s ‘Giving Back to Track’ programme, which was set up three years ago to help young women make their way in athletics.
After plenty of support and encouragement, Tait says breaking her mentor’s record was something she had targeted for a while.
“Eilish has supported and mentored me for a good few years now and she always said she thought I would be the one who would take her record down,” she revealed.
“Eilish really took me under her wing. I am still in touch with her now, we still go back and forth. She always sends me a congratulations message, she is always there to support me and I am really grateful for everything she has done for me.”
Having just completed her studies at West Virginia University, Tait admits she is “still figuring things out” in terms of where she is going to base herself as she prepares for next summer’s Commonwealth Games, which she says is her “priority”.
As a 13-year-old, Tait went to watch the athletics at Hampden Park when the games last visited the city in 2014.
“I just can’t wait to hopefully be a part of it and be part of inspiring the next generation because that was me sitting in the stands watching – so I really hope that can be me on the start line this time,” she added.
