The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Laura Muir ‘thrilled’ as she retains Scottish athlete of the year title
Milnathort runner picks up prestigious title after stellar 2016
Laura Muir has been named as Scottish Athlete of the Year for 2016 – making it two-in-a-row for the 1,500m Commonwealth Record holder.
The 23-year-old has had a stellar 12 months, including winning the overall Diamond Race, finishing seventh at her first Olympics and breaking the British record held by Dame Kelly Holmes – and not once but twice.
Muir headed a shortlist of no fewer than eight athletes which featured seven who went to the Olympics this summer, including Kinross relay medallist Eilidh Doyle, Scottish record-breakers Andy Butchart and Lynsey Sharp, marathon top 10 finisher Callum Hawkins, European medallist Steph Twell and Dundee comeback star Eilish McColgan, plus GB hill runner Andy Douglas.
Olympian Derek Redmond made the presentation on Saturday night at a sold-out annual awards dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow.
As Muir, who runs for Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, followed up her 2015 success, there was another double with her mentor Andy Young being named as Scotland’s Performance Coach of the Year for a second successive year.
“I am thrilled and delighted to again be named Scottish Athlete of the Year,” Muir said.
“There was so much competition for this title and that’s obvious from the length of the shortlist. People have been breaking records, picking up medals and reaching finals at global events.
“It is exciting for everyone that Scottish athletes are doing so well in so many different areas of the sport and I think there is a real team spirit there which is pushing everyone on.”
Young said: “It really was some special to see how the crowd responded to her being announced as the winner.
“The joy in the room at her winning literally brought a tear to her eye.
“Running 3.55 and breaking British records was something very special, but it’s fantastic to see just how much the people back home loved it too, and feel that it’s “their Laura” delivering these fantastic performances.”
Rodger Harkins, scottishathletics director of coaching, said: “Many congratulations to Laura on her award.
“She has been outstanding in so many races in 2016 and she is a worthy winner.
“She went for it in Rio in terms of the Olympic final and has no regrets about not settling for going for bronze – she was trying for gold.
‘To come back from that, only days later, and break the British record for the second time in Paris – after that superb run in London prior to Rio – was amazing.
“It was a Commonwealth record too and places her in the very top echelon of the world all-time lists. That’s how good a run it was.”
Double Paralympic gold medallist Libby Clegg, who has enjoyed such fine success this year following a switch to new guide runner Chris Clarke, was named Scotland’s Para Athlete of the Year, while Dunblane’s Andy Butchart was awarded the Dallas Trust Trophy.