Magnificent seven: The award-winning Edinburgh and Lothians athletes for 2022

Jake Wightman was crowned 1,500m world champion this year

The most high profile prize – Athlete of the Year – went to Jake Wightman, the world 1500 metres champion who also won bronze and silver at Commonwealth Games and European Championships. He was represented by his parents, Susan and Geoff, at the gala dinner in Glasgow. In a sign of the growing influence of Scottish athletes on the world scene Jake had to beat off stiff competition from Eilish McColgan and Laura Muir. There were a string of other trophies heading back along the M8. Here are the prize winners.

Jake Wightman

Geoff and Susan Wightman receive son Jake's award

Athlete of the Year. Quite simply incredible. The year of his life. Jake won gold in the men’s 1500m at the World Championships in Oregon and he followed that up with bronze in a fast Commonwealth Games final in Birmingham. He switched to 800m and duly took European Championship silver, breaking Tom McKean’s long-standing Scottish record in the process. Jake also set Scottish records at the mile and 1000m.

Corey Campbell

Under-17 Athlete of the Year. Corey, from Team East Lothian, demonstrated his potential across disciplines and distances – including indoors, outdoors and cross country. Corey set age group records at 1500m and 3000m and won a number of significant events including national cross country, Scottish indoor 3000m, Welsh under-20 International 3000m and England Athletics Indoor 1500m. At under-18 level Corey represented GB and NI at the European Championships and ran sixth in the 1500m final.

Megan Keith

Under-20 Athlete of the Year. The Edinburgh University Hare and Hounds member, originally from Inverness, is the first Scot to win a European cross country gold, a victory that contributed to GB and NI team golds. Megan then ran fifth in the World Universities Cross Country in Portugal. Harmeny AC’s up-and-coming Tendai Nyabadza was a runner-up in this category after a year in which he took a 1500 bronze for Team GB and NI at the European under-18 Championships.

Stuart Donnelly

Volunteer of the Year. The chair of Team East Lothian, as well as being a qualified coach and official he regularly volunteers up to four nights each week in addition to supporting events at the weekend. His fundraising efforts have also made a significant impact on the sport both within East Lothian and nationally. Stuart has been instrumental in the club’s progress.

Sandra Hardacre

Honorary Life Member. Sandra first made her mark on cross country when winning the national under-13 title in1975 and 21 years later began officiating going on to assist up to world championship level in 2008. At Livingston AC Sandra has coached endurance athletes from club level to GB vests. She is now the Scottish Athletics East District Road and Cross Country commission Secretary; President of the East District Cross Country League; and a member of the Road and Cross Country Commission.

Catriona Whitelaw

Edinburgh-based Catriona took the SAMH Mental Wellbeing Award for assisting joggers to build confidence in running as well as helping some through difficulties such as illness and bereavement. All this while helping raise over £2000 for the hospital ward where a fellow member of the Loanhead and Dalkeith based Milestones Group has been receiving treatment.

Charlotte Morgan

The Edinburgh-based hill runner took the Masters accolade in recognition of competing around Europe to win the World Long Distance Mountain Running series. She was also second in the Women’s Mountain Running World Cup series. A runner-up in this category was Edinburgh AC’s Paul Forbes who completed an 800m and 1500m double at the World Masters.· In addition to the wins for Corey Campbell and Stuart Donnelly Team East Lothian were nominated for Off Track Club of the Year and Para Development Club of the year.