Olympic Champion Laura Muir at the start line in Lanark for the Lindsays Short Course XC (Photo by Bobby Gavin)
A new issue of PB Magazine is in the final stages of production/distribution and will be made available to our members in the next few days.
We asked Scottishathletics chair, David Ovensto write the opening ‘Column’ section a few weeks ago and David noted an excellent winter as many events returned post Covid. And of course there is so much to look forward to in 2022. . .
By David Ovens
“At our last board meeting we were delighted to be able to stamp a large proportion of Scotland’s national records from the indoor athletics season.
“These and other accomplishments reflect the achievements of our athletes and coaches over the past few months.
“These numerous impressions on Scotland’s all-time lists are a stark reminder that our sport is thriving across all disciplines and ages, from grassroots to elite, and our coaches and athletes are performing.
“There are many reasons for the tremendous success we are seeing in Scotland at the moment.
“We have an incredibly strong foundation with an unmatched club structure, a large pool of experienced and dedicated coaches and a network of volunteers across our clubs, officials, leagues, schools and communities who work tirelessly to support our sport.
“But in Scotland we are increasingly benefiting from incredible role models who have succeeded at the highest level and yet mingle with our grassroots and young athletes and inspire them to be the best they can be and to believe that they can it can also stand on the podium at the Olympic Games or the Paralympics.
David Ovens chatted with club representatives at our club conference in October (photo by Bobby Gavin)
‘Whether it is Laura Muir and Andy Butchart Mingle with our top club runners in Lanark or Owen Mueller By giving awards to young athletes at Dunfermline, our developing athletes have role models to look up to and identify with who truly are the best in the world.
“These athletes and their coaches know what it takes to be successful and that knowledge and experience gets recycled in our athletics ecosystem.
“Over the last few years has been one of our most inspirational athletes Chris O’Harewho announced his retirement from professional sports earlier this year.
“Chris has been an outstanding ambassador for athletics in Scotland and whilst I am saddened that he is retiring it is worth reflecting on his great career. Chris represented Scotland at two Commonwealth Games and was an Olympian at Rio 2016.
“Chris memorably won silver in the 3000m at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow in 2019 and won two other European bronzes alongside several British medals – and notably he ran 25 sub-four-miles, holding the Scottish record until recently .
‘It was duly taken from him from the start Jake Wightman and then by the Olympic bronze medalist, Josh Kerr. All three are, of course, Edinburgh AC team-mates.
“We wish Chris and his family all the best for the future and thank him for the tremendous contribution he has made to athletics in Scotland.
Chris O’Hare took silver in the men’s 3000m at Glasgow 2019 (Photo by Bobby Gavin)
“As the indoor season drew to a close we were delighted to see a strong Scottish contingent competing for GB and NI at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade at the end of March.
‘Congratulations to Jenny Selman, Erin Wallace, Adam Thomas, Guy Learmonth and Neil Gourley for their selection, capping off a great indoor season for each of them.
“I’m sure it was an exciting and educational experience for each of them and their coaches.
“When you’re looking forward to summer, there’s a lot to be optimistic about. We have the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, sandwiched between the World and European Championships, where hopefully our top athletes can shine and take home a lot of medals.
“But for most of us whose aspirations are to compete for our clubs, break a PB or simply step up to finish an event, the national program of league games, open graded meetings, regional and national competitions is something that we are all looking forward to.
“We hope the summer brings as much success to Scottish athletes and their coaches as we have seen this year.”Wonderful winter!’
Eilish McColgan is one of six Scots pre-selected for Team Scotland for the Commonwealths in Birmingham (Photo by Jeff Holmes)
+++
tags:
Birmingham 2022, David Ovens, PB
Comments are closed.