Athletics: Nimmo leaps into Scottish long jump record books

The 21-year-old from Falkirk leapt 6.47m at an event in the United States to extend a mark set almost 40 years ago.

Myra Nimmo – no relation – set the record for Scottish women in the event back in 1973 but that was eclipsed at the Hilltoppers Relay meeting in Kentucky when Nimmo jumped 6.47m in her third round to win the competition.

She is currently third in the indoor list following a 6.24 jump earlier this season, also in the States at the Sun Belt Conference Championships.

Her delighted coach Darren Ritchie, who is currently with the scottishathletics training group in Portugal, said: “Everyone is thrilled at a new Scottish record being set for long jump. Jade has been working hard all season during this spell in the United States and we felt all along she could reach this kind of level. She has put a lot of work and deserves every congratulation for making that count.”

Nimmo hails from Falkirk and represents Sale Harriers. She is currently attending Western Kentucky University.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, Eilish McColgan made a superb return to the track in her first competitive races for eight months following injury. The 21-year-old won the 1500m and 3000m at the Scottish Universities and Colleges Championships at Grangemouth and represented Dundee University in the 4 x 400m relay as well.

McColgan set a personal best of 9.13.78 in the 3000m as she emphatically proved her fitness following the broken foot injury last August which cost her a steeplechase place at the World Championships in Daegu.

And Edinburgh AC athlete Emily Stewart was fourth in the World Universities Cross country championship in Poland on Saturday with Kilbarchan Elspeth Curran placed 23rd. The two Scots were the best of the British universities team.