Olympic silver medallist lands national honour while Sammi Kinghorn and Benf Sandilands share Para award at Glasgow ceremony
Josh Kerr was named Athlete of the Year at the 4J Annual Awards for Scottish Athletes 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 Athletes pathway is continuing to work well.
Scottish Athletes Shine at Paris Olympics
Josh Kerr’s silver, allied to two relay medals for Nicole Yeargin, made Paris the best Scottish Athletes 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 athletes 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 Scottish athletes we have competing at the 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 Athletes 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 Kerr 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 Athletes 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 Kerr Mungin (Kilbarchan AAC)
Performance Coach of the Year – Ross Cairns
Para Performance Coach of the Year – Steve Doig and Rodger Harkins
Josh Kerr Reflects on His Silver Medal Finish in a Dramatic 1500m Final
Josh Kerr said the pre-race clamour around his contention with Jakob Ingebrigtsen made little difference to the shock result of an unprecedented 1500m last in which he got done with a silver decoration.
Kerr set an English public record while the favourite Ingebrigtsen, viewed as Kerr’s just realistic rival for top honours in a massively expected conflict, went out excessively fast and blurred to fourth in the last stages.
The American Cole Hocker showed up from no place to take gold except for Kerr, who momentarily looked #1 to win in the back straight, didn’t have any desire to fault his high-profile hatred with Ingebrigtsen for the outcome. They are mad enemies yet the normal two-horse challenge neglected to emerge in what turned into a finale for the ages; all things being equal, Kerr regretted nothing Scottish Athletes.
“The storylines will be the storylines, it will proceed with I’m certain,” he said. “Remarks will be made over the course of the following two or three days. Yet, this is a serious environment, we’re just getting to do this like clockwork. I needed to leave away with a decoration that could put me top on the planet. I couldn’t do that yet I’m reliably appearing at these titles and assembling exhibitions I can be glad for. That is the best I have Scottish Athletes.”
Found out if he had addressed Ingebrigtsen since the race, he answered: “I shook his hand however that was about it, I realize that he would have been disheartened with today’s Scottish Athletes.”
There was no self-hatred for Kerr about posting a period of 3min 27.79sec in a quick, exciting standoff. “I expressed out loud whatever my objectives were, it was really self-evident yet I put a presentation out there today that I was very glad for. I zeroed in on my controllables, I ran the best and the quickest strategic 1500m I have at any point finished in my life Scottish Athletes.”
It was enough for an individual best yet not adequate to see off the 23‑year-old Hocker, who sliced very nearly three seconds off his own quickest time. “This street isn’t finished, I truly needed it today,” said Kerr, who enhanced his bronze from Tokyo. “It makes me eager and prepared for more Scottish Athletes.”
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