The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)

UK boss warns about Scots’ athletics future

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UK Athletics’ new technical director has warned that Scotland’s athletics boom could fizzle out if the sport rests on its laurels.

Stephen Maguire is the architect of much of the success of the past decade with Eilidh Doyle, Laura Muir and Josh Kerr landing Olympic medals, Lynsey Sharp earning a European title and Jake Wightman topping the list with a World Championsh­ip gold.

However, no Scots were included in the latest Olympic Confirmati­on squad that backs rising talents, while just two prospects from north of the border made UKA’S Futures Academy last winter – and neither Erin Wallace or Kane Elliot subsequent­ly went on to make a major breakthrou­gh.

And while there are ample Caledonian medal prospects – including Dundonian Eilish Mccolgan – who are currently at their peak, the prognosis for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is less dazzling, admits Maguire.

“Things do go in cycles, in particular in a small area like Scotland, which has been brilliant for me,” he said.

“We’ve been spoiled by that upper end of talent, Jake, Chris O’hare, Lynsey, Eilidh.

“You’ve got Eilish who smashed the summer with Jake – and even Neil Gourley.

“In any other country, they’d be banging the drum about him, a mid3:30s 1,500m runner.

“He’s got Josh and Jake there so that doesn’t make life easy for the likes of Neil.

“I think the talent’s there if you look at some of the younger ones.

“But I do think it’s cyclical. You can’t rest on your laurels. And you have to keep advancing. You have to keep creating.

“What was maybe put in the structures four, five, six years ago… that has to be enhanced.

“What’s the next thing that we have to do? We have to understand coaching and the coaches.

“Then we have to, as UKA, be able to give them that cutting edge technology.

“And now putting that under the one umbrella of Birmingham should enhance the athletes that are at that critical podium stage.”

Maguire returned to take charge of UKA’S high performanc­e programme in September after quitting the governing body when he was snubbed for a senior role two years ago.

The Northern Irishman immediatel­y showed a ruthless touch by dropping Callum Hawkins and Lynsey Sharp from Lottery funding following injuryplag­ued campaigns.

Sharp, now 32, has not raced in three years, becoming a mother with fellow runner Andy Butchart, who she is due to wed later this month.

Her planned comeback in the summer was postponed due to a further injury setback.

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