Athlete of the year

Andrew Butchart: In first year as a full-time athlete reached the Olympic 5000 metre final where he improved on his own Scottish best after breaking Nat Muir’s 36 year old record earlier in the summer and also beat John Robson’s 32 year old Scottish 3000m record. The first of those achievements was all the more memorable because he completed that race in Holland wearing just one running spike, while he also won the Scottish National XC this year.

Andy Douglas:

The Scotland XC International picked up sixth place at the World Mountain Running Champs in September 2015 at the start of the year under review (when the selection panel met). He followed that up with fourth place in the European Champs during the 2016 season when he was clearly Britain’s top Senior Men’s athlete in that strand of the sport. Andy was also second in the Scottish National XC and won the Home International Men’s race on the same Falkirk course a month later.

Eilidh Doyle:

Ended Scotland’s 28-year wait for an Olympic medal in track and field with bronze in the 4 x 400m in Rio, drawing her level with Yvonne Murray as Scotland’s most decorated athlete in Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth competition. Claimed second place in 400m hurdles in the Diamond League, won gold at the European Champs in the 4 x 400m relay and set a new PB in Monaco, breaking her existing Scottish 400m Hurdles record.

Callum Hawkins:

Caught the eye of the watching world when he led the Olympic Marathon on his way to a top 10 finish. Having finished eighth and leading Briton at the London Marathon earlier in the year he ran away from Ugandan defending champion Moses Kipsiro at this month’s Great Scottish Run and while that came just after the selection period for this award he had already done more than enough to contend as well as getting off to a flier for next year’s.

Eilish McColgan:

Contested the 3000m steeplechase at the 2012 Olympics, but having switched focus to the 5000m even she would have rated her chances of racing at the Olympics as odds-against at the start of 2016. A return in the Antrim Road Race set her up for a terrific spring, however, which saw her start to post PBs and qualifying standards. Went on to finish sixth in the European Championships, then brilliantly came through her heat in Rio to reach the Olympic final.

Laura Muir:

Broke Kelly Holmes’ British 1500m record at Diamond League meeting in London in July, setting a world best time for the year at that point, then improved on that in Paris by setting a new Commonwealth record and went on to finish seventh in the Olympic final before becoming the first Scot and only the third British woman to win a Diamond League title with two race wins and two second place finishes.

Lynsey Sharp:

The former European champion and Commonwealth silver medallist who is part of another Scottish athletics dynasty, produced the third fastest 800m time ever by a British woman in finishing sixth in the Olympic final in Rio, that Scottish record the peak performance in a highly consistent season which included an appearance at the World Indoors ahead of a string of sub-two minute performances and brought one second place and three third place finishes in Diamond League meetings.

Steph Twell:

After competing as a teenager at the Beijing Olympics, the former world junior 1500 metre champion made up for the disappointment of missing out on London 2012 due to a foot injury in some style by winning the 5000m at the British Championship to earn place in the team for Rio, just missing out on the final by one place in a season that brought a long-awaited return to full fitness and form as she recorded PBs for the first time in several seasons.

Para athlete of the year

Jo Butterfield:

Jo Butterfield claimed Paralympic gold in Rio in the F51 Club Throw event with a World Record! The Glasgow-based athlete, who only took up the sport just over two years ago, came up with a 22.81m throw to win the event.

Libby Clegg:

Wonderful year for Libby (and new guide runner Chris Clarke) after re-classification at T11 saw her claim gold twice at the Parlaympics in Rio. There was a World Record in the semi-final at 100m and a Paralympic Record in the 200m final.

Sammi Kinghorn:

Sammi Kinghorn raced in three different events in Rio – and she came up with a European Record in the T53 800m in the heats with a big Personal Best.

Maria Lyle:

Maria Lyle came home from Rio with a trio of Paralympic medals to her name at the age of 16. The Scottish sprinter took bronzes in two individual events and landed a silver in the 4 x 100m relay as the Paralympics GB quartet set a British Record.

Derek Rae:

Derek’s excellent year featured competing in a GB vest in the London Marathon and then again at the Parlaympics in Rio as he continues to set PBs at various distances.

Stef Reid:

Stef matched her performance from London 2012 at the Rio Paralympics in the T44 long jump as she came home with as silver medal - and was only denied victory by a world record.

Performance Coach of the Year

Sophie Dunnett: Coach to hill runner Andy Douglas who has impressed on the World and European stage in the past 12 months and won the Home International when representing Scotland at cross country after a silver medal in the National XC.

Derek Easton: Leads Central AC’s dominant endurance group and this year coached Andrew Butchart to superb individual success including Scottish records, the British title and sixth place at the Olympics over 5000m.

Robert Hawkins: Skilfully guiding the careers of sons Derek and Callum Hawkins, with both at the Olympics. Callum , who also raced in the World Half and European Champs, finished a superb ninth in the marathon in Rio.

Ian Mirfin: Coach to Scotland’s elite Para athletes, Ian individually guided Sammi Kinghorn to race three events at the Paralympics in Rio and has also coached Shelby Watson to World Records in 2016 in her wheelchair classification.

Andy Young: Glasgow Uni coach who continues on a remarkable journey with Olympian Laura Muir in a season which saw her break Scottish, British and Commonwealth Records and land the overall Diamond Race title at 1500m.

Masters Athlete of the Year short-list

Philippa Millage (V35):

The VP-Glasgow athlete has made a huge impact on the track at V35 this season with a number of records – and finished sixth in the British Senior Indoor Champs at 800m.

Claire Thompson: (V40)

Claire won British and Scottish Maters titles and was sixth at European Masters Indoors at 1500m and 3000m in a season of PBs at seven distances from 800m to 10,000m including steeplechase.

Kerry-Liam Wilson (V45)

The Cambuslang athlete dominated the V45 scene in Scotland England, including a ‘double double’ at 5000m on track and road; also second in Europe in non-stadia Half Marathon Champs

U20 Athlete of the Year

George Evans:

The Inverness thrower won Scottish and British titles in shot and discus. He represented GB and NI at the World Juniors, where he qualified for the discus final.

Josh Kerr:

Edinburgh AC athlete now based in New Mexico, Josh was fourth in the British Seniors Champs at 1500m. He captained GB and NI at World Juniors, where he finished 10th in the 1500m final.

Alisha Rees:

Alisha competed in various age brackets, and her achievements included a Scottish Senior 200m title win and a 100m U20 Record. At the European Youths in Georgia (U18), Alisha won silver in the 200m.

Cameron Tindle:

Cameron picked up medals at U20 level in England Athletics events. Representing GB and NI at the World Juniors, he came through two rounds in the 200m with PBs and then finished seventh in the final.

Shelby Watson:

Shelby set four T33 Worlds Records in Switzerland over 100/200/400/800 and is a member of the British Athletics Talent Squad. Also won bronze in a 100m event held during the European Champs in Holland.

U17 Athlete of the Year

Maria Lyle:

The Dunbar sprinter came home from the Paralympics with three medals after taking bronzes in the T35 sprint events and a silver in the ParalympicsGB team in the T35-38 4 x 100m Relay.

Holly McArthur:

Holly set a Scottish heptathlon U17 record and won a string of medals in Scottish, English and UK Schools events. Represented HB and NI Juniors at Manchester International.

Alessandro Schenini:

Giffnock North AAC’s Alessandro set a Scottish indoor long jump record at U17 and won a series of outdoor/indoor doubles in Scottish, English and Schools events.

Erin Wallace:

Erin has had a record-breaking year at 800 and 1500 indoors and won England Athletics U17 title. At the European Youths in Georgia (U18) she took the bronze medal.