Jake Wightman and Neil Gourley will lead Scotland’s hopes for gold when the Mile makes a long-awaited return to the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow 2026. The pair, along with 10,000m specialist Megan Keith, are the first athletes confirmed for the host nation’s team for the Games, which take place from 23 July to 2 August next year.

All three earned selection following standout performances at the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships. Wightman claimed silver in Japan with Gourley also reaching the final, while Keith continued her rise with another strong showing on the global stage.

For Wightman and Gourley, both established 1500m runners, the switch to the Mile offers the chance to compete in a distance steeped in history. The event was last contested at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, and now replaces the 1500m on the Glasgow 2026 programme.

Wightman said: "To be the first athletes selected in what is going to be a huge team is pretty cool. The Mile is a classic distance and one people can relate to. It’s special to have the chance to be the first champion of this new era and I’ll give everything to get on that podium for Scotland."

For Gourley, who missed the 2024 World Indoor Championships in his home city through injury, selection carries extra meaning. “There’s been two occasions when I was meant to compete in Glasgow and couldn’t,” he said. “This one means a lot more. Representing Scotland in my home city is something I’ll always treasure.”

Keith’s journey to Glasgow has been equally impressive. A former world junior orienteering champion, she has since collected multiple European medals on the track and in cross country, as well as an Olympic appearance. “Competing for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games is going to be very special,” she said. “It’s something I never imagined, but to wear the Scotland vest at home will be incredible.”

If you'd like to know more, visit the Glasgow 2026 website.

Image: Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026