Mhairi Maclennan Explained

Mhairi Maclennan
Birth Name:	Mhairi Carmen Maclennan
Nationality:	British
Sport:	Athletics
Event:	Cross country, marathon
Birth Date:	26 March 1995
Pb:	Half marathon: 1:11:18 (Copenhagen, 2023) Marathon: 2:29:15 (London, 2024)

Mhairi Carmen Maclennan (born 26 March 1995) is a British long distance runner.^[1]

Early life

From Kirkhill, she runs for the Inverness Harriers.^[2] She moved to Edinburgh as a teenager to pursue athletics and attend the University of Edinburgh.^[3] She later waived the right to anonymity to expose the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her coach in Edinburgh, John Lees, in an investigation by The Daily Telegraph.^[4] She spent a year training in Spain at the High-Performance Centre in Madrid.^[5]

Career

In January 2022, she won the Scottish Inter District cross country championships at Irvine.^[6] In February 2022, she won the Scottish cross country title in Falkirk.^[7] In October 2022, she set a new course record at the Loch Ness 10k.^[8] She ran a half marathon personal best of 1:11.18 in Copenhagen in September 2023.^[9]

She won the Inverness half marathon in March 2024 and set the fastest women's time in the 39-year history of the race, running 1:11:47 breaking the previous record set by Natasha Phillips.^[10]

On her marathon debut she finished eleventh at the 2024 London Marathon in a time of 2:29:15.^[11]

Personal life

She developed neurotic behaviour and disordered eating after being sexually abused by disgraced athletics coach John Lees, whose coaching licence was revoked in 2021 by an independent appeal committee.^[12] In February 2021, she along with pole vaulter Anna Gordon and middle-distance runner Kate Seary, wrote an open letter to UK Athletics urging for lifetime bans to be imposed on coaches found guilty of sexual or physical misconduct. She completed an internship in policy and public affairs at the British Heart Foundation. She and Seary started the advocacy group Kyniska for women in sport.^{[13] [14]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: M.Maclennan. 21 March 2024. World Athletics.
2. Web site: Kirkhill athlete is tipped favourite to win Inverness Half Marathon and Scottish title. Inverness Courier. 21 April 2024. Will. Clark. 8 March 2024.
3. Web site: Herald Scotland. 21 April 2024. Mhairi MacLennan admits life has been a whirlwind since speaking out about abuse. 22 January 2022.
4. Web site: Sex abuse survivor Mhairi Maclennan condemns 'paltry progress' on safeguarding athletes against coaches. The Daily Telegraph. 21 April 2024. Fiona. Thomas. 21 April 2022.
5. Web site: After cross country and road success Mhairi MacLennan is hungry for track glory. Fast Running. 21 April 2024. Ruth. Jones.
6. Web site: Athletics: Mhairi Maclennan feels form is returning following Irvine win. Press and Journal. 21 April 2024. Fraser . Clyne. January 18, 2022.
7. Web site: Maclennan and Crowe claim Scottish cross-country crowns. Athletics Weekly. 21 April 2024. February 27, 2022.
8. Web site: Mhairi Maclennan sets new course record to win River Ness 10k at Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running in Inverness. Inverness Courier. 11 April 2024. 2 October 2022. Will. Clark.
9. Web site: Inverness half marathon: Mhairi Maclennan is Scottish title hope after recovery from mould-related illness. Press and Journal. 21 April 2024. Ruby. Loxley. 7 March 2024.
10. Web site: Inverness Half Marathon: Mhairi Maclennan and John Bell celebrate victory. Press and Journal. 21 April 2024. 10 March 2024.
11. Web site: London Marathon. World Athletics. 21 April 2024. 21 April 2024.
12. Web site: Athletics Weekly. 21 April 2024. The human cost of athlete abuse. Euan . Crumley . October 5, 2023.
13. Web site: Kate. Carter. 23 July 2021. Glorious Sport. Mhairi Maclennan: A Hero We Need. 21 April 2024.
14. Web site: Kate Seary and Mhairi Maclennan on Kyniska Advocacy and policy change to protect athletes. Citiusmag. 21 April 2024. 16 August 2021.