Red-hot award shortlists prove strength of talent in Scotland

Performance director Rodger Harkins believes the scottishathletics awards dinner in Glasgow tonight will demonstrate the current good health of the sport.

Five world class talents are in the hunt for the headline accolade – the FPSG athlete of the year award – as well as a host of other gongs to be handed out to clubs, officials, volunteers and coaches.

Double European indoor gold medallist Laura Muir has won the title for the past two years but faces competition from four others on the shortlist – marathon runner Callum Hawkins; Scottish 1,500m record holder Chris Ohare; European indoor medallist and Scottish 5,000m record holder Eilish Mccolgan and double World Para Champs gold medallist and T53 200m world record holder Sammi Kinghorn.

British Olympians Kelly Sotherton and Jenny Meadows are guests of honour for the event, sponsored by recruitment specialists FPSG, and BBC Scotland presenter Bryan Burnett will be compere.

“I think the awards will demonstrate quite clearly the strong health of the sport in Scotland at the moment,” said Harkins.

“In terms of the athlete of the year award itself, I don’t think anyone would disagree that the last couple of years have seen the bar rise even higher in terms of the standard being achieved by the contenders.

“Arguably, it has gone up higher once again for 2017 with a host of Scottish national record holders and a world record holder nominated on the (five-strong) shortlist. Nominees:

FPSG athlete of the year: Callum Hawkins; Sammi Kinghorn; Eilish Mccolgan; Laura Muir; Chris O’hare

Para athlete of the year: Amy Carr; Sammi Kinghorn; Maria Lyle; Derek Rae; Stef Reid

U20: George Evans; Holly Mcarthur; Jemma Reekie; Alisha Rees; Erin Wallace

U17: Adam Clayton; Joel Mcfarlane Masters: Fiona Davidson; Philippa Millage; Paul Thompson