REEKIE AND WIGHTMAN AMONG WINNERS OF THE 2020 BRITISH ATHLETICS WRITERS ASSOCIATION AWARDS

Jemma Reekie (coach: Andy Young; club: Kilbarchan) and Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman; Edinburgh) were among the winners in the annual British Athletics Writers Association (BAWA) Awards.

Reekie set women’s British indoor 800m, 1500m and mile records earlier this season, while Wightman moved to second on the men’s UK all-time 1500m rankings following a spectacular run in Monaco.

For Reekie, the 1:57.91 clocking over 800m indoors in Glasgow was the fastest indoor time in the world since 2006, and she would later revise her outdoor 800m PB to 1:58.63. She takes home the Cliff Temple Award for Female British Athlete of the Year.

At the Diamond League meeting in Monaco, Wightman produced one of the best middle-distance displays ever seen from a British athlete. His time of 3:29.47 placed him only behind Sir Mo Farah, and moved him ahead of the likes of Steve Cram, Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett. He claims the John Rodda Award for Male British Athlete of the Year.

The junior prizes were awarded to Max Burgin (Ian Burgin; Halifax) and Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter; Leigh) who contributed to an excellent year for the endurance athletes in the UK.

Burgin – who wins the Jim Coote Memorial Award for Junior Male – revised his outdoor 800m PB to 1:44.75.

At the Muller British Athletics Championships in Manchester, Hodgkinson sealed her first senior 800m title. The 18-year-old showed mature performances through the rounds to take home the gold medal. She also finishes the year with the Lillian Board Memorial Award for Junior Female.

The prestigious Ron Pickering Memorial Award for Services to Athletics was given to former UK Athletics major events director Cherry Alexander, while the the Vikki Orvice Inspiration Award was presented to distance running legend Ron Hill.

Find out all the BAWA awards winners and read more, here.