The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Laura Muir, who was introduced by Dame Kelly Holmes as ‘your future Olympic champion’ at the awards dinner in Glasgow, won Scotland’s Athlete of the Year title for the third time.
ATHLETICS: Scots hat-trick for runner hailed as ‘future Olympic champion’
Laura Muir is Scotland’s FPSG Athlete of the Year after a thrilling 12 months for the endurance runner from Kinross.
Fifer Derek Rae claimed the FPSG Para Athlete of the Year award at a glittering ceremony in Glasgow on Saturday night.
Dame Kelly Holmes helped make the presentations as guest of honour at the scottishathletics and jogscotland FPSG awards dinner at the Hilton Hotel.
It was also a great moment for some of the best-known names in the sport – as scottishathletics announced 15 new inductions to its Hall of Fame.
Lee McConnell and Lachie Stewart were among the names from the past who were recognised, with Allan Wells making the presentations.
Muir was a richly-deserved recipient in the main category after a year in which she rose to a heady No 1 ranking in the world from the IAAF.
Holmes has lost British records to the Scot over the past couple of years but could not disguise her pleasure in making the award to the 25-year-old from Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, who won a medal double at the World Indoors in Birmingham in March and then claimed the European title at 1,500m in Berlin.
Dame Kelly, who famously won the 1,500m and 800m double in Athens in 2004, in fact, introduced the winner as “your future Olympic champion – Laura Muir”.
“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,” said Muir.
“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 1,500m gold.
“It was my first international medal outdoors and I really wanted to win that one.”
It is the third time Muir has won the Scottish Athlete of the Year crown, following success in 2015 and 2016, and coach Andy Young made it a double by collecting the Performance Coach of the Year award.
Fife AC athlete Rae was a gold medallist in his T45/46 category at the IPC World Cup at the London Marathon in April and continues to set personal bests at various distances.
Charlotte Morgan, who had been shortlisted for the FPSG Athlete of the Year award alongside winner Muir plus Eilidh Doyle, Jake Wightman and Robbie Simpson, took home the Masters Athlete of the Year trophy.
“Laura has had a cracking year and I was delighted to present her with the FPSG Scottish Athlete of the Year award,’ said Dame Kelly.
“I think a world No 1 ranking for the women’s 1,500m from the IAAF, on overall performances through the season, says it all about Laura’s 2018, really.
“The World Indoors in Birmingham in March set her up for the rest of the year. To win two medals in three days with a bronze in the 3,000m followed by a silver in the 1,500m was a great achievement.
Stephen Maguire, director of performance and coaching with scottishathletics, said: “Laura 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 1,500m runners.”