Rodger thanks five Scotland athletes

Saturday 13th December 2014

Rodger Harkins: ‘Tremendous commitment to the sport in Scotland by these athletes.’ Photo: Jeff Holmes

The aftermath of a Commonwealth Games is often a time for reflection for elite athletes and can lead to big decisions.

So it is now appropriate for scottishathletics to formally acknowledge the retirement from International Athletics of a number of Team Scotland members at Glasgow 2014.

And, more than that, we would like to formally thank James Campbell, Hayley Haining, Jayne Nisbet, Kris Robertson and Alison Rodger for very significant contributions to the sport in Scotland over the past few years.

All of the aforementioned has taken the decision not to continue in their chosen discipline in the international arena after representing Scotland and each will have different reasons for so doing.

Haining, Robertson and Rodger effectively finished immediately after Glasgow 2014 while Campbell and Nisbet have come to their decisions over the past few weeks.

‘I think the time is right now for scottishathletics to acknowledge the retirement from International Athletics by a number of those athletes who represented Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games,’ said our Director of Coaching, Rodger Harkins.

‘A couple of those were immediately after Glasgow 2014 but this time of year is often a reflective period and that can lead to this kind of decision.

‘We have mentioned five athletes here who competed in Glasgow and I want to thank them for their huge contribution to the sport over a number of years.

‘If you look at the careers of James, Hayley, Jayne, Alison and Kris then we are talking five athletes who performed at a consistent level for quite some time and really made their mark on the athletics landscape in Scotland.

‘Those five athletes amassed countless Scotland appearances taking in the Commonwealth Games, Loughborough and Age Group events and delivered a number of National Championships wins and Records involved, as well.

‘I want to thank them for all their commitment to various clubs, coaches and indeed the sport itself. We know the dedication it takes to first reach your very best level and indeed then try and stay there.

‘On behalf of everyone at scottishathletics, and I think the wider public in the sport in Scotland, we wish these athletes all the best for the future and whatever direction they now take.’

*Javelin thrower James Campbell is the National Record holder and competed at the Commonwealths in both Delhi and Glasgow. He has 25 records against his name for U15 to Senior.

*Marathon runner Hayley Haining competed at the Commonwealths in Melbourne and Glasgow – with the latter appearance this summer making her Scotland’s oldest-ever track, field or marathon participant at 42. Hayley also went to the World Champs in 2005 and finished 25th in the marathon.

*Sprinter Kris Robertson won a number of National 400m titles and he ran the opening leg in the Glasgow 2014 heats at Hampden when Scotland’s men set a 4 x 400m National record.

*Thrower Alison Rodger competed at the Commonwealths in Glasgow and has a number of National titles and records against her name – including six shot putt golds at Senior level.

*High jumper Jayne Nisbet set a Scottish indoor record at one stage in 2014 and reached the Hampden final. Jayne won five Senior titles outdoors.

All five represented GB at some age or stage in their careers and the combined medal haul across all Scottish champs (indoor, outdoors) and UK level runs into dozens (with thanks to the ScotStats website for some of this background information).

Good luck in the future to our five former international athletes.

*We’ve an album of photographs covering these athletes at Glasgow 2014 on our Facebook page.

Tags: Alison Rodger, Hayley Haining, James Campbell, Jayne Nisbet, Kris Robertson