Muir picked up the national honour in Glasgow as Derek Rae claimed the Para athlete of the year award.
Laura Muir won Scotland’s FPSG Athlete of the Year after a thrilling 12 months for the endurance runner at the FPSG Awards Dinner in Glasgow on Saturday (November 3).
Dame Kelly Holmes joined the presentations as Guest of Honour where 18 awards were handed out including Fife athlete Derek Rae claiming the FPSG Para Athlete of the Year.
Muir was a richly-deserved recipient in the main category after a year in which she rose to a heady number one ranking in the world from the IAAF.
Holmes has lost British records to Muir over the past couple of years but couldn’t disguise her pleasure in making the award to the 25-year-old from Dundee Hawkhill Harriers – who won a medal double at the World Indoors in Birmingham in March and then claimed European 1500m gold in Berlin.
RELATED: Laura Muir wins European 1500m gold
Dame Kelly, who famously won the 1500m and 800m double in Athens in 2004 introduced the winner as “your future Olympic champion – Laura Muir”.
Photo: Bobby Gavin
“I am thrilled to win this title again and every year it seems the opposition is even stronger – because so many Scots are performing on the world stage,” said Muir.
“It was such an exciting year for me. There were a few highlights but if you push me I would pick out Berlin and the European 1500m gold. It was my first international medal outdoors and I really wanted to win that one.”
It’s the third time Muir has won the Scottish Athlete of the Year crown, following success in 2015 and 2016, and her coach, Andy Young, made it a double by collecting the Performance Coach of the Year award.
Fife AC athlete Rae was a gold medallist in his T45/46 category art the IPC World Cup at the London Marathon back in April and continues to set PBs at various distances.
Charlotte Morgan, who had been short-listed for the FPSG Athlete of the Year award alongside winner Muir plus Eilidh Doyle, Jake Wightman and Robbie Simpson, took home the Masters Athlete of the Year trophy.
“Laura Muir has had a cracking year and I was delighted to present her with the FPSG Scottish Athlete of the Year award,” commented Holmes.
“I think a World number one ranking for the women’s 1500m from the IAAF, on overall performances through the season, says it all about Laura’s 2018, really.”
Stephen Maguire, Director of Performance and Coaching with Scottish Athletics, added: “I think Laura has had an absolutely outstanding year on the track – more than outstanding, in fact.
“She can look back with a lot of pride on a year when, indoors and outdoors, she confirmed her place in the very top echelon of women’s 1500m runner. Winning the Diamond League final, in a line-up which was worthy of the Olympics or the World Champs, only served to underline that.
“And, when it comes to women’s 1500m running, we have to be aware that it is the strongest era there’s ever been.”
It was also a great moment for some of the best-known names in the sport – as Scottish Athletics announced 15 new inductions to the Hall of Fame. Lee McConnell and Lachie Stewart were among the names from the past who were recognised, with Allan Wells making the presentations.
FPSG Awards Dinner Roll of Honour
Technical Official of the Year: Margaret Brown
Raymond Hutcheson Trophy for Services to Officiating: Ian McWatt
Volunteer of the Year: Stephen Wallace
The Eddie Campbell Memorial Award: Sunny McGrath
Honary Life Membership: Mairi Levack
Impact Club of the Year: Team East Lothian
Track & Field Club of the Year: Edinburgh AC
Off Track Club of the Year: Garscube Harriers
The Tom Stillie Sword: Adrian Stott
The Dallas Trust Trophy: Eilish McColgan
Club Coach of the Year: Kirk and Linda Smith
Development Coach of the Year: John Lees
Performance Coach of the Year: Andy Young
U17 Athlete of the Year: Kane Elliott
U20 Athlete of the Year: Erin Wallace
Masters Athlete of the Year: Charlotte Morgan
Para Athlete of the Year: Derek Rae
FPSG Athlete of the Year: Laura Muir
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