FUTURES PROGRAMME DUO SHORTLISTED FOR TASS STARS AWARDS

British duo Naomi Ogbeta (coach: Tom Cullen, club: Trafford) and Maya Bruney (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley) have made the final shortlist for the Talented Athlete Support Scheme (TASS) Stars Awards.

Two-hundred metre specialist Bruney is nominated in the “Most Potential” category, awarded to an athlete who is deemed as a one-to-watch either in their academic studies or in their sport.

Ogbeta, who will be defending her triple jump crown this weekend at the Muller British Athletics Championships, receives two nominations in the “Most Inspirational” category, for an athlete who has shown a positive attitude and creativity in their study and/or sport, and the “Star of the Year” award,

Both athletes are part of the British Athletics Futures Programme, which identifies athletes that have the potential to win medals at future World and European Championships, and Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Athletes on the final shortlist have all been beneficiaries of the TASS programme in the past academic year and have been shortlisted following a rigorous selection policy.

It is the second year in succession where Ogbeta has been nominated for an award after winning the “Most Inspirational” award in 2017 after setting a new personal best in the triple jump and helping to raise funds for the comedy society to go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

This academic year, she has won European Junior bronze, her first medal on the international stage and followed it up with a British indoor triple jump title in Birmingham and victory representing England in Bratislava in Elan.

Ogbeta is belancing a politics degree at the University of Manchester with photography, her series of vlogs and the University’s Comedy Society, where she has performed improv at venues in Manchester

Bruney was crowned the European Under 20 200m champion in 2017, shattering her personal best in the heats, semi-finals and final by a total of 0.63 to 23.04. She followed up her gold with two bronze medals in the 4x100m and 4x400m, becoming the first track athletes to win three medals at a European Youth Championships since David Bolarinwa and Jodie Williams in 2011.

Her creative flair continued this year during her studies at the University of East London when tasked to message a designer of her choice, went beyond sending an email by designing a coat inspired by DH Lawrence’s novel, The Rainbow, that saw her earn a meeting the brand director of Penguin Books. The bespoke coat features writing from the book on the lining inside and was designed in line with Penguin’s colour scheme.

Ogbeta, Bruney and the remaining finalists have been invited to celebrate their achievements at the Muller Anniversary Games later this month, where the five winners will be announced and presented with their trophies.