McConnell is a four-time World Championship bronze medallist in the 4 x 400 metres relay in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011, with the 2007 team setting the British record of 3:20.04.[5][6] Her individual honours include winning a 2002 Commonwealth silver at 400 metres, 2002 European Championship bronze at 400 metres, and 2006 Commonwealth bronze at 400 metres hurdles.
Her personal best time over 400 m is 50.82 seconds.[9]
After the 2007 season, McConnell decided to give up hurdling, as her transition from the flat had not been as successful as she had intended, and she returned to the 400 m flat.[8] She broke the stadium record in the 400 m at the 2008 FBK Games, producing her fastest season opener.[10]
At domestic level, McConnell later won the British 400 m title in 2008 and 2010, the British Inter-Counties 200 metres title in 2009,[8] and two more Scottish 200 m titles (outdoor again in 2011 and indoor in 2013).[11]
Relays
In addition to winning medals in individual contests, she has been a fairly successful relay runner. McConnell was known for participating in the Great Britain 4 × 400 m relay team at major events.
In addition at the World Championships, she ran the first leg for the 4 × 400 m relay teams that finished fifth in 2001, sixth in 2003, and fourth in 2009, also running fourth leg for the team that finished fourth in 2011 (both 2009 and 2011 were later upgraded to bronze medals).[12]
McConnell alongside Fraser, Catherine Murphy, and Ohuruogu finished fourth in the 4 × 400 m relay at the 2004 Olympics, but could inherit bronze medals from this event as American athlete Crystal Cox was later found guilty of doping offences.[13] Cox and not the US team had her medal revoked but that could still change.[14]
For Scotland, McConnell ran in the 4 × 400 m relay at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and 2010 (where a national record was set).
Retirement
McConnell missed the 2013 season after becoming pregnant with her first child.[15] She returned to training nine weeks after giving birth to her son with a view to competing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in her hometown of Glasgow – however she announced her immediate retirement from athletics in April 2014.[1]
Awards
McConnell was voted Scottish Athlete of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2007 by Scottish Athletics.[16] She also received the George Dallas Trophy in 2002.[17]
During the SAAA years, she was previously awarded the Coronation Cup in 2002 & 2003 for being the outstanding Scottish Athlete of that year,[18] the 2001 Crabbie Cup for most meritorious performance at the Scottish Championships,[18] and the 1994 TBS Challenge Trophy for the outstanding performance at the U17 Scottish Championships.[18]
