Collette Fagan winning the 2006 East Kilbride Half Marathon in a personal best time
Scottish statistician Arnold Black wrote the following:
“ATHLETE OF THE DAY – COLLETTE FAGAN
Collette Fagan won bronze at the European Junior 5000 in 2001 and was 5th two years later at the European U23s. In 2000, she was part of the winning GB junior team at the European Cross-Country, placing 9th in the individual event. She was Scottish 5000 metres champion in 2004 and 2005 and represented Scotland at 10,000m in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Collette won the 10km title on the road in 2003 and was cross-country champion at both long course and short course in the 2004/05 season. 2006 was her last track season (age 24) but she returned in 2009 and 2010 at the marathon. Career bests of 4:29.2 (1500), 9:15.18 (3000), 15:49.51 (5000), 33:00.31 (10000) and 2:45:11 marathon.”
Collette FAGAN (6.06.82) City of Glasgow, Victoria Park City of Glasgow, Abertay University
Between 1996 and 2010 she featured in the Scottish lists, although she also raced well in Europe during 2012. In GB Championships, she won a bronze medal in the 2004 5000m.
Collette Fagan was a brilliant young athlete. She won Scottish Championship Under 17 1500m Indoor gold in 1997; Under 17 1500m Outdoor gold 1998; and Under 20 3000m gold in 1999.
She won Scottish Schools Group C 1500m gold in 1996. Group A 1500m gold in 1999. 3000m Group B gold in 1997 and 1998; Group A 3000m gold in 1999.
Another GB Junior International track appearance:
In May 2001 Collette Fagan raced for GB Juniors v England, Scotland, Wales and two other teams. She was fourth in 3000m in 9.24.21.
As a Junior, she raced in Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Scotland and England. As a Senior, she added Slovenia, Poland, Wales, Australia and The Netherlands.
In February 2000, she won the Inter-County Junior Cross-Country Championships in Nottingham.
Four Scottish International track appearances as a Senior:
2003: Ljubljana, Slovenia. Scotland v Slovenia, Italy, Hungary and Croatia. In the 3000m, Collette was 3rd ex 6 9:39.51.
2003: Loughborough. Scotland v five other teams. In the 3000m Collette finished 2nd in 9:33.62.
2004: Loughborough. In the 3000m won in 9:15.18 v Wales, Ireland and three other teams.
(Her time in the 2004 International was second in that year’s Scottish Rankings, behind Kathy Butler. Collette Fagan was also second behind Kathy in the 5000m rankings for 2003, 2004 and 2005; and behind Freya Murray in 2006. Collette topped the 10,000m rankings in 2003 and was second to Kathy in 2004. She was also second to Hayley Haining in the 2009 Marathon list; and second to Susan Partridge in 2010.)
In May 2003, she won the Inter-Counties 5000m in Bedford.
In the 2006 Commonwealth Games 10,000m, hampered by injury, she finished 10th in 34:35.16. Sadly, injury problems persisted for two years thereafter.
Between 1998-2002, Collette Fagan secured four Junior International XC vests, including the Reebok Cross Challenge: in November 1999, when she finished first Scot in second place behind an English runner; and in December 2002, when Susan Partridge, Freya Murray and Collette Fagan combined to ensure that the Scotland Under-23 team beat France and GB.
In 2003, she won two Senior International XC vests, including in Liverpool, November 2003, when Kathy Butler, Susan Partridge, Collette Fagan and Freya Murray helped Scotland to defeat England.
Cross Country National Championships: silver in under 15 1997, City of Glasgow team gold; under 17, team silver 1998; Under 20 individual and team golds in 2002; Senior bronze and team silver in 2003; 2005 individual gold and team gold; 2006 individual silver and team gold.
Scottish Short Course Cross-Country Championships: under 20 individual gold in 2002, plus Senior silver and team gold; team gold in 2003; 2005 individual and team golds.
Scottish Cross-Country Relays: Young Athletes team gold in 1998 and 1999; Senior team gold in 2000 and 2002.
Scottish 10k Road Championships: individual gold and team gold 2003.
Collette Fagan finished tenth in the 2005 Great North Run half marathon (1.13.44).
Her half marathon best was 1.13.30 in East Kilbride 2006. Her fastest marathon (2.45.10.1) was run in Amsterdam 2009.