by Stuart WeirStuart Weir did this piece on the 2020 BAWA awards….
Jemma Reekie and Jake Wightman, photo by Getty Images / British athletics
The British Athletics Writers’ Association annual awards lunch is one of my favorite events of the year. Sadly, this year it could not take place. Members chose the following award winners
John Rodda Award for Male Athlete of the Year – Jake Wightman
Cliff Temple Award for Female Athlete of the Year – Jemma Reekie
Jim Coote Memorial Award for Junior Male – Max Burgin
Lillian Board Memorial Award for Junior Female – Keely Hodgkinson
Vikki Orvice Inspiration Award – Ron Hill
Ron Pickering Memorial Award – Cherry Alexander
A lack of opportunities for para athletes to compete in 2020 meant no para awards were given out.
Middle-distance duo Jake Wightman and Jemma Reekie were named male and female British Athletes of the Year in a Scottish clean sweep at the British Athletics Writers Association 2020 awards.
Jake Wightman, photo by Getty Images / British Athletics
In a year decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic, Wightman produced one of the finest middle-distance runs ever seen by a British athlete, moving second on the all-time 1,500 metres rankings – above the likes of Seb Coe and Steve Cram – when he clocked 3min 29.47sec at the Monaco Diamond League. He also posted an 800m personal best of 1min 44.18sec.
Andrew Pozzi was second and Mo Farah third in the main men’s award.
“It’s a great honour especially in a year where we didn’t think there were going to be enough performances to give any kind of awards out,” Wightman said. “To be given this isn’t something I expected back in March when it didn’t look like anything would happen. It’s a real shame the Olympics didn’t happen this year but we all have to pick ourselves up and get ready for next year. I hope we’re going to see a brilliant Games and some great performances from British athletes.”
Hear more from Wightman at Socialing The Distance with Larry Eder, Featuring Jake Wightman, Clip #6 – Does 3.28 Scare You? – RunBlogRun
Reekie took the women’s award from the Lauras – Muir and Weightman. In the space of one astonishing February fortnight, Reekie set British indoor 800m, 1500m and mile records to announce herself on the global middle-distance scene. Her indoor 800m mark of 1min 57.91sec was the fastest indoor time in the world since 2006 and she later set an 800m outdoor personal best to top this year’s British outdoor rankings.
Jemma Reekie, photo by Getty Images / British Athletics
Reekie responded to the award: “Thank you for all the support. It’s been great this year. I had such a difficult year so it’s nice to win the award. I’m happy I even got to race this year and for all of them to be pretty good. I’m delighted to have won and happy for the support and the support next year as well. I think I’ve got a lot to improve on and I can work on and I just push myself every year even harder and keep improving from that.”
Read more about Reekie at Jemma Reekie reflections on her development as an athlete – RunBlogRun
Max Burgin, who is 18, improved his own British Under-20 800m record with a time of 1min 44.75sec. “It’s been a strange season,” said Burgin.”Not too many races, but luckily I was able to make at least one of the races I did count with a big PB that I was very happy with.”
See Max Burgin, the young 800m star, speaks post Stockholm! – RunBlogRun for more on Max.
Keely Hodgkinson, also, 18, who claimed senior British 800m titles indoors and outdoors took the Award for Junior Female. She said: “Thank you to all the people who voted for me in what has been a really uncertain and crazy year. It’s been really nice to get my achievements recognised.”
Keely Hodgkinson takes women’s 800m, photo by Getty Images/ British Athletics
The prestigious Ron Pickering Memorial Award for Services to Athletics was given to former UK Athletics major events director Cherry Alexander, who left the governing body after 29 years. “The Pickering name in our sport conjures up commitment, professionalism and prestige,” said Alexander. “I’ve seen at face value the help, support and empathy they have shown to athletes over many years and I’ve been fortunate to work closely with Shaun [Ron’s son]. I feel very humbled to have my name associated with this award. I still can’t take the smile off my face – I’m absolutely delighted.”
Cherry Alexander, photo by Getty Images / British Athletics
The Vikki Orvice Inspiration Award was presented to distance running legend Ron Hill, who broke world records at four distances and became only the second man to break 2hr 10min for the marathon during his career. Now 82, he did not miss a single day of running for more than 52 years – from December 1964 to January 2017 – and developed a successful sportswear brand.
Ron Hill, photo by Insidethegames.biz
