Kinross-shire duo Laura Muir and Eilidh Doyle are among eight top Scots who have been shortlisted for the Scottish Athlete of the Year title.
Seven Olympians from Rio as well as GB international hill runner Andy Douglas are in the running for the accolade.
Governing body scottishathletics took the decision to extend the shortlist in order to fully recognise and acknowledge an extraordinary year for the sport north of the border.
Doyle, Muir and Lynsey Sharp have monopolised the Athlete of the Year crown for the last few years.
They are joined on the list of contenders this year by Andrew Butchart, who has claimed two long-standing Scottish records and was sixth in the 5000m final in Rio, Olympic marathon top 10 finisher Callum Hawkins, Olympic 5000m finalist Eilish McColgan and European 5000m bronze medallist Steph Twell.
The winner will be revealed at the scottishathletics annual awards dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow on Saturday October 29.
Director of Coaching Rodger Harkins said: “I think we can safely say that the bar is being set very high indeed for the Scottish Athlete of the Year award this year – probably the highest it has been for at least a couple of decades.
“When we sat down to consider all the candidates we actually had to start off with a decision not to restrict the short-list too much.
“Just looking back at some of those names now on the short-list makes you realise the wide range of achievement.
“Butchart and Sharp both broke the Scottish record in their Olympic finals; Laura Muir became the first Scot to win the Diamond Race which is the very top echelon of the sport; Eilish McColgan defied her own expectations on return from injury to post PB performances and reach an Olympic final and Steph Twell took an individual bronze at the European Champs in Holland.
“Eilidh Doyle broke her Scottish Record, won a relay gold at the Euros and then a relay bronze in Rio – the first Scot to medal at an Olympics for 28 years in track and field.
“For Callum Hawkins to finish ninth in the Olympic marathon was superb but should not have been a real surprise given his London Marathon performance and, of course, we’ve now seen that again in Glasgow.
“So, while it is a difficult decision for us, it is one you would always love to have!
“I congratulate all those athletes short-listed and the coaches involved in helping them reach these levels.”
Full short-lists –
Athlete of the Year: Andrew Butchart, Andrew Douglas, Eilidh Doyle, Callum Hawkins, Eilish McColgan, Laura Muir, Lynsey Sharp and Steph Twell.
Para Athlete of the Year: Jo Butterfield, Libby Clegg, Maria Lyle, Sammi Kinghorn, Derek Rae and Stef Reid.
U-20 Athlete of the Year: George Evans, Josh Kerr, Alisha Rees, Cameron Tindle and Shelby Watson.
U-17 Athlete of the Year: Maria Lyle, Holly McArthur, Alessandro Schenini and Erin Wallace.
Masters Athlete of the Year: Philippa Millage, Claire Thompson and Kerry-Liam Wilson.
