Josh Kerr named Scottish Athlete of the Year

Olympic silver medallist lands national honour while Sammi Kinghorn and Ben Sandilands share Para award at Glasgow ceremony

Josh Kerr was named Athlete of the Year at the 4J Annual Awards for Scottish Athletics on Saturday evening (October 26). The Olympic 1500m silver medallist and world indoor 3000m champion came out on top at the ceremony in Glasgow from a shortlist that also included Jemma Reekie, Laura Muir, Scout Adkin and Megan Keith. 

The Para Athlete of the Year honour was shared between Sammi Kinghorn and Ben Sandilands, who both struck Paralympic gold in Paris this summer. 

Sammi Kinghorn and Ben Sandilands (Bobby Gavin)

Former 10,000m world champion and Olympic silver medallist Liz McColgan, Guest of Honour for the evening, insisted that the level of performance in 2024 means the Scottish pathway is continuing to work well. 

Kerr’s silver, allied to two relay medals for Nicole Yeargin, made Paris the best Scottish performance at the Olympics since 1988, the year in which McColgan came second on the sport’s grandest stage. There has also now been at least one Scottish athlete on the podium at the past eight championships in a row. 

“The athletics development pathway has been working well in Scotland for some years and we’re seeing that currently with the elite athletes we have competing at global level,” said McColgan. 

“Scots are getting the opportunity to develop in an age appropriate way and stepping up the levels. It’s working because now we are seeing – and have been for a few years – a far higher percentage of Scots on the GB and NI team for major events than you would expect.

“Of course it is not perfect and Scottish Athletics need support and sponsors to help them deliver programmes. But the sport as a whole are making a huge contribution.”

Liz McColgan (Bobby Gavin)

McColgan, who coaches daughter Eilish, added: “Josh winning was no surprise. He had an incredible year, taking in World indoors gold and silver at the Olympics. That men’s 1500m was one of the best, and toughest, races in Paris and I was lucky enough to be in the stadium that night.

“The joint award for the Para Athlete of the Year was a good idea. Both have won their tiles at the Paralympics – Ben Sandilands set a world record [in the T20 1500m] and Sammi Kinghorn won four more silver medals [as well as her T53 100m title].

“Both Sammi and Ben have brought tremendous determination to their sport. And if you can share high jump medals at the Olympics then there is no reason why not for Scottish Para Athlete of the Year!”

Award winners:

4J Athlete of the Year – Josh Kerr

4J Para Athlete of the Year – Sammi Kinghorn and Ben Sandilands

Eric Liddell Olympic/Paralympic Achievement Award – Laura Muir

Dallas Trust Trophy – Nick Percy

Masters Athlete of the Year – Paul Forbes (Edinburgh AC)

U20 Athlete of the Year – Angela McAuslan-Kelly (Aberdeen AAC/Princeton)

U17 Athlete of the Year – Josh Mungin (Kilbarchan AAC)

Performance Coach of the Year – Ross Cairns

Para Performance Coach of the Year – Steve Doig and Rodger Harkins

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