National Academy to support 42 athletes

Friday 23rd October 2015

Making the leap – more on the National Academy project

scottishathletics re-launched our key development programme earlier this year as the ‘National Academy’.

The original project was launched in 2013 with the intention being to better support and direct young athletes, their coaches and parents as they progress towards senior status.

After that re-launch in April, the total number of those involved was raised to 32 athletes, coaches and support teams as meeting the standards being asked, as we seek to strengthen the prospects for Scotland’s best junior athletes to graduate to significant senior success.

Now, the athlete total has reached 42 with a new ‘intake’ of 16 to receive services and support via the scottishathletics National Academy.

Among those who have been added following fine performances over the past year are Commonwealth Youth Games medallists, 800m runners Ben Greenwood and Carys McAulay; sprinter Adam Thomas; long jumper Ross McLachlan (younger brother of James); Jamie Willamson (son of Scottish middle distance legend Graham); and Erin Wallace, short-listed for Scottish U17 Athlete of the Year at the age of 15.

scottishathletics regard the targets of the programme to be as follows:

*Improving the retention rate of our best age group athletes into the Senior ranks

*Increased representation on GB U18, U20 and U23 teams en route to CWG Gold Coast 2018 and beyond

*Increased representation on GB Senior teams and GB Performance Programme

*Greater number of young athletes on CWG Gold Coast 2018 team and beyond

*More medals at CWG Gold Coast 2018 and beyond

scottishathletics regard the benefits of the programme (as appropriate) as follows:

*Coach Education Opportunities

*Athlete Education Opportunities

*Parent Education Opportunities

*Subsidised Event Specific Competition Opportunity

*Functional Movement Screening Support

*Subsidised Training Camp Opportunity

*Physiotherapy Support

The National Academy programme for track and field athletes will be a combination of education, learning and opportunities for athletes, coaches and parents.

We feel that, when partnered with hard work and strong commitment, this support and advice will help prepare the athlete ‘teams’ for the challenges ahead and assist the them to fulfil their performance potential as Seniors.

Our six CYG athletes who medalled in Samoa are now all with the National Academy

From November 2015 the National Academy looks as follows (those in bold type are new to the National Academy):

Multi Events (2):

Tom Chandler (Kenny Pearson) Multi Events Central AC

Caitlin Edgar (Kenny Pearson) Multi Events Central AC (also in Jumps)

Endurance (14):

Adam Scott (Steve Doig) Fife AC

Ben Greenwood (Cat Tavendale) Perth Strathtay

Cameron Steven (Jamie Bowie) Lasswade AC

Christopher Stewart (Dudley Walker) Giffnock North AAC

Jamie Williamson (George Gandy) Springburn Harriers

Joe Arthur (Eric Fisher) Edinburgh AC

Jonathan Glen (Mark Pollard) Inverclyde AC

Josh Kerr (Mark Pollard) Edinburgh AC

Owen Miller (Steve Doig) Dunfermline T&F

Carys McAulay (Phil Hickens) Warrington AC

Erin Wallace (Dudley Walker) Giffnock North AAC

Kathryn Gillespie (George Gillespie) Central AC

Mhairi Hendry (Andy Young) VP-Glasgow

Shelby Watson (Ian Mirfin) Red Star AC

Sprints and Hurdles (15):

Alisha Rees (Willy Russell) Banchory Stonehaven

Finlay Marriott (Brian Hopkins) Cambridge & Coleridge

Jill Cherry (Allan Scott)  VP-Glasgow

Katie Purves (Allan Scott) Edinburgh AC

Kelsey Stewart (Joyce Hogg/Ken Hogg) Aberdeen AAC

Mhairi Patience (Colin Sinclair) VP-Glasgow

Pamela McNicol (Pat Kelly) Law and District AC

Sarah Pearson (John Dawson) Central AC

Adam Thomas (Ken Spencer) Bracknell AC

Cameron Tindle (Henry Gray/Bruce Scott) Edinburgh AC

Jack Lawrie (John Macdonald) Pitreavie AAC

Jason MacLean (Charlie Forbes) Inverness Harriers

Lewis Clow (Trevor Madigan) Aberdeen AAC

Robert Green (Colin Gaynor) Herts Phoenix

Ross Paterson (John Kinder) Red Star AC

Throws (6):

Emma Rae (Colin McCulloch) Pitreavie AC

Lisa O’Neill (David Laing) Pitreavie AC

Andrew Peck (Alison Grey) Ayr Seaforth AC

Ciaran Wright (Willie Robertson) Falkirk Victoria Harriers

George Evans (Colin McCulloch) Inverness Harriers

Ross Douglas (Jim Edwards) Charnwood AC

Jumps (6):

Anna Gordon (Eamon Fitzgerald /Laurie Needham) Pitreavie AAC

Caitlin Edgar (Kenny Pearson) Central AC

Rachel Alexander (David Watson/Anne Stewart) Giffnock North AAC

Alessandro Schenini (David Watson/Ryan McAllister) Giffnock North AAC

Lewis McGuire (Bryan Roy) Pitreavie AAC

Ross McLachlan (Denis Costello) City of Norwich

Tags: National Academy, Samoa

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