Milnathort athlete Laura Muir has been named as Scottish Athlete of the Year for 2015.
And the Scottish 1,500m national record holder’s mentor, Andy Young, made it a double for the partnership as he was named Scotland’s performance coach of the year.
Muir beat off the challenge of fellow nominees Eilidh Child, Lynsey Sharp and Robbie Simpson to win the accolade at scottishathletics’ annual awards dinner in Glasgow on Saturday.
Child and Sharp had monopolised the award for the past six years.
It reflected a superb 2015 for Muir which featured finishing fifth in the World Champs final in Beijing; becoming the first Scottish woman to break four minutes as she trimmed her own national record to 3.58.66, winning the British 1,500m title and a memorable Diamond League race win in Oslo.
The Dundee Hawkhill Harriers and Glasgow University athlete also set PBs at 800m and 3,000m over the outdoor season and, early in the year, was fourth in the 3,000m final at the European Indoors in Prague.
“I’m thrilled. There was terrific competition for this title and not just from those on the shortlist there have been so many good performances by Scottish athletes this past year,” said Laura.
“I am delighted for my coach Andy Young to receive the top coaching award as well. Andy works really hard at his coaching and it is good when he gets a bit of recognition.
“I felt after the 2014 that I had that I really wanted to come out in 2015 and show the world what I am capable of. I am happy I’ve managed to do that and it is hard to pick out a highlight.”
Cram said: “I think Laura is a hugely deserving winner of this. When we look at what happened in Beijing, then some people will simply see the stat that she finished fifth in her final.
“But you have to appreciate that the women’s 1,500m was probably the toughest event in terms of strength and depth at those World Champs. There was amazing quality gathered in that final and for Laura, at 22, to get fifth place reflects on her talent and mental prowess.”
Fife AC’s Ronnie Morrison received the Tom Stillie Sword Award for services to athletics as a coach, official and administrator.
He recently retired from the post of Scottish Athletics Cross-Country and Road Commission Chairman, a post he held for many years.