Clark is among Scots in GB World Class Programme

Aberdeen AAC’s Zoey Clark is one of 17 Scots named in British Athletics’ World Class Programme for the 2018-2019 season.

The programme is part of UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded initiative to support the delivery of success in the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Clark, who is coached by Eddie Mckenna, earned her place on the programme by playing a key role in the Great Britain 4x400m relay squad over the past two seasons.

The Aberdeen Sports Achiever of the Year helped the team win silver at the 2017 London world outdoor championships, then achieved silver at the world indoors at Birmingham in February where she was also a finalist in the individ- ual 400m. The 23 year-old added another relay bronze at the European championships in Berlin in August.

There is no place on the progarmme, however, for Commonwealth Games bronze-medallists hammer thrower Mark Dry, from Burghead, and marathon runner Robbie Simpson, from Banchory, both of whom have aspirations to compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Stephen Maguire, head of performance and coaching with scottishathletics, is encouraged by so many Scots being supported by the programme.

He said: “I am delighted and I think it shows again the strength of Scottish athletes and their coaches because it is a very good representation on a UKwide programme.

“The numbers are very consistent with where we have been in the past few years, in fact, it’s a bit up on the past few years.

“There is a new tranche of Scots coming on to the programme and the very name of it as World Class Performance Programme tells you the levels these athletes and coaches are operating at.

“Selectors are having a look at these athletes and believe they can deliver on a world stage.”