Muirtakes topathlete trophyfor thirdtime

Milnathort middle-distance runner Laura Muir was crowned Scottish athlete of the year for the third time at the weekend.

It has been another remarkable season for the former Kinross High student who claimed the European title at 1500m in Berlin in August.

Dame Kelly Holmes was on hand to present Muir with her award at a glittering ceremony held at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel on Saturday night.

“I am thrilled to win this title again and every year it seems the opposition is even stronger – because so many Scots are performing on the world stage,” Muir said.

“It was such an exciting year for me. There were a few highlights but if you push me I would pick out Berlin and the European 1500m gold.

“It was my first international medal outdoors and I really wanted to win that one.”

Double Olympic gold medal winner Holmes said: “Laura has had a cracking year and I was delighted to present her with the FPSG Scottish athlete of the year award.

“I think a world No.1 ranking for the women’s 1500m from the IAAF, on overall performances through the season, says it all about Laura’s 2018.

“The World Indoors in Birmingham in early March set her up for the rest of the year.

“To win two medals in three days with a bronze in the 3000m followed by a silver in the 1500m was a great achievement – and especially when snow and ice made travelling so difficult in Britain that week.

“I think that boosted her confidence even more for the European Championships and she dominated that 1500m final to win well in Berlin.

“To then go and win the Diamond League final in Brussels really was the icing on the cake.”

Stephen Maguire, director of performance and coaching with scottishathletics, was full of praise for the 25-year-old.

“I think Laura has had an absolutely outstanding year on the track – more than outstanding, in fact,” he said.

“She can look back with a lot of pride on a year when, indoors and outdoors, she confirmed her place in the very top echelon of women’s 1500m running.”