OWEN MILLER has paid tribute to those who train with him after his incredible year continued last Saturday evening.
The 29-year-old was named as Para Athlete of the Year at the annual 4J Studios Scottish Athletics Awards in Glasgow, which also saw Pitreavie AAC named as Track and Field Club of the Year, and Alison Miller-Duff, a member of their Jog Scotland group, receive the Jog Scotland Achiever of the Year prize.
At the star-studded ceremony, five-time Olympian Jo Pavey was on hand to present Owen with his award following his Paralympic Games success in Tokyo.
The former Woodmill High School pupil, who is a member of Fife AC and trains with a group of athletes at Pitreavie athletics track, memorably claimed victory in the T20 1500 metres on what was his Games debut.
Owen, who won the award ahead of Kayleigh Haggo, a World and European 100m frame-running champion; Sammi Kinghorn, who won women’s T53 400m silver, and 100m bronze, in Tokyo; and Maria Lyle, a T35 100m and 200m bronze medal-winner at the Games, shared the stage with Olympic Games silver-medallist, Laura Muir.
The pair were on the same podium some 15 years after they shared success on the Highland Games circuit while they both represented the former Dunfermline West Fife club, a forerunner to what is now Dunfermline Track and Field.
“I’m thrilled to win this award as Para athletics in Scotland is very strong,’ Owen said.
“It’s all down to hard work and a lot of help from everyone in my training group. It was great to be on the stage with Laura again and it brings back memories of events when we were both very young – like Highland Games meetings in Fife.
“I always watch her races and she is an inspiration.”
Owen’s coach, Stevie Doig, who was a nominee for Performance Coach of the Year, which was won by Muir’s coach, Andy Young, said: “It was an incredible performance and this just caps the season off.
“As he says, there’s a lot of people at Pitreavie who help him in sessions, male and female athletes who have given their time to help him on the track, help pace him, drive him to sessions, drive him to long Sunday runs, so a lot of people have contributed to his success.”
Pitreavie AAC were feted with the prestigious Track and Field Club of the Year accolade, which was presented to president Paul Allan by Muir.
It was one of two prizes that came their way, with Miller-Duff also recognised by Jog Scotland for completing a half marathon just six months after a major operation.
A club spokesperson said: “Pitreavie AAC were delighted to win two awards at the annual 4J Scottish Athletics Awards.
“President Paul Allan received the prestigious Track and Field Club of the Year award on behalf of the club from Laura Muir, in recognition for the extensive work the club had done to promote and maintain athletics engagement during the COVID pandemic, whilst Alison Miller-Duff, a Pitreavie and Ready Steady Go Pitreavie member, received the Jog Scotland award for Achiever of the Year, having completed a half marathon just six months after a kidney transplant.”
On Miller’s award, Pavey said: “Owen Miller’s 1500m title win was one of the great moments from the British athletes at the Paralympics and his Para Athlete of the Year award is richly deserved.
“I really enjoyed watching the action from Japan and the Scots were certainly to the fore with medals also for Maria Lyle, Sammi Kinghorn and Libby Clegg.”
In addition to the award winners, there were two other West Fife nominations at the prizegiving ceremony.
Another member of the Pitreavie Jog Scotland group, Laura Wall, was shortlisted for the SAMH Mental Wellbeing Award, with Dunfermline Track and Field up for Impact Club of the Year.
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