Olympic silver medallist lands nationwide honour whereas Sammi Kinghorn and Ben Sandilands share Para award at Glasgow ceremony
Josh Kerr was named Athlete of the 12 months on the 4J Annual Awards for Scottish Athletics on Saturday night (October 26). The Olympic 1500m silver medallist and world indoor 3000m champion got here out on prime on the ceremony in Glasgow from a shortlist that additionally included Jemma Reekie, Laura Muir, Scout Adkin and Megan Keith.
The Para Athlete of the 12 months honour was shared between Sammi Kinghorn and Ben Sandilands, who each struck Paralympic gold in Paris this summer time.
Sammi Kinghorn and Ben Sandilands (Bobby Gavin)
Former 10,000m world champion and Olympic silver medallist Liz McColgan, Visitor of Honour for the night, insisted that the extent of efficiency in 2024 means the Scottish pathway is continuous to work nicely.
Kerr’s silver, allied to 2 relay medals for Nicole Yeargin, made Paris one of the best Scottish efficiency on the Olympics since 1988, the yr by which McColgan got here second on the game’s grandest stage. There has additionally now been a minimum of one Scottish athlete on the rostrum on the previous eight championships in a row.
“The athletics improvement pathway has been working nicely in Scotland for some years and we’re seeing that at the moment with the elite athletes we’ve competing at world stage,” mentioned McColgan.
“Scots are getting the chance to develop in an age acceptable method and stepping up the degrees. It’s working as a result of now we’re seeing – and have been for just a few years – a far increased share of Scots on the GB and NI group for main occasions than you’ll anticipate.
“After all it isn’t excellent and Scottish Athletics want assist and sponsors to assist them ship programmes. However the sport as an entire are making an enormous contribution.”
Liz McColgan (Bobby Gavin)
McColgan, who coaches daughter Eilish, added: “Josh profitable was no shock. He had an unbelievable yr, taking in World indoors gold and silver on the Olympics. That males’s 1500m was among the finest, and hardest, races in Paris and I used to be fortunate sufficient to be within the stadium that evening.
“The joint award for the Para Athlete of the 12 months was a good suggestion. Each have received their tiles on the Paralympics – Ben Sandilands set a world report [in the T20 1500m] and Sammi Kinghorn received 4 extra silver medals [as well as her T53 100m title].
“Each Sammi and Ben have introduced great dedication to their sport. And when you can share excessive bounce medals on the Olympics then there is no such thing as a purpose why not for Scottish Para Athlete of the 12 months!”
Award winners:
4J Athlete of the 12 months – Josh Kerr
4J Para Athlete of the 12 months – Sammi Kinghorn and Ben Sandilands
Eric Liddell Olympic/Paralympic Achievement Award – Laura Muir
Dallas Belief Trophy – Nick Percy
Masters Athlete of the 12 months – Paul Forbes (Edinburgh AC)
U20 Athlete of the 12 months – Angela McAuslan-Kelly (Aberdeen AAC/Princeton)
U17 Athlete of the 12 months – Josh Mungin (Kilbarchan AAC)
Efficiency Coach of the 12 months – Ross Cairns
Para Efficiency Coach of the 12 months – Steve Doig and Rodger Harkins
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