27 October 2015

Following their achievements over the last year, technical official Lis Henderson and middle distance coach Andy Young have had been recognised by European Athletics with two awards announced last week.

Henderson, a field judge, has received a Women’s Leadership award for her outstanding contribution to athletics and is hopeful that more women will be inspired to follow her path and take up leadership roles within the sport.

She said: “I am really proud to be given this award, and surprised too. There are some great women who work in athletics in the UK!

“Athletics needs strong leaders and role models, both men and women, but too often women don’t see the skills they have and what they can bring to the sport.  I hope this award, and the work European Athletics is doing can help encourage more women to stay involved and take on leadership roles in athletics.  It’s a great sport, with great opportunities no matter whether you’re male or female.”

Young, coach of British 1500m champion Laura Muir, has been recognised with an award in recognition of his coaching excellence. Under his guidance, Muir ran under four minutes for 1500m for the first time this summer, running 3:58.66 in Monaco to become the second fastest Brit of all time, before going on to finish fifth at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing.

Young is delighted to have been recognised with this award, he said: “It’s fantastic to be recognised on an international level for all the hard work and success you have with your athletes. It’s been quite a four years since Laura (Muir) first appeared at Glasgow University as an 18 year old 4:38 1500m runner.

“The progress and development has been exciting each year since but to be trackside to see her win at the historic Oslo Bislett Games that was special. I used to tell her just how remarkable it was for an athlete to run a 4min 1500m so to see her fly by that milestone and run 3:58 again that’s something to be incredibly proud of.”