Keely Hodgkinson (coach: Trevor Painter, club: Leigh) and Laura Muir (Andy Young, Dundee Hawkhill) have been shortlisted for the European Athletics’ Golden Track Awards.
For 19-year-old Hodgkinson it has been a year to remember as she has broken the world U20 indoor record, won the European Indoor title, lowered the British 800m record and topped it off with an Olympic silver medal at her first ever Games. She has been listed for both the European Athletics Women’s Athlete of the Year and Women’s Rising Star.
After age-group success over the past few years, and a first British outdoor title in 2020, Keely was already one to watch out for in British athletics circles. However, the British Athletics Futures Academy athlete burst onto the scene in Vienna at the end of January when she broke the long-standing world U20 indoor record, recording a time of 1:59.03.
All of a sudden, eyes were on the Leigh athlete as she attempted to qualify for her first senior team at the European Indoor Championships in Torun in March.
In Poland, the remarkable happened as Hodgkinson dominated the competition from the heats, right through to the final as she showed her quality to take her first senior European title.
After winning the Olympic trials race in Manchester in June ahead of Muir and Jemma Reekie, she booked her spot on the plane for the Olympic Games. A few weeks later, she was an Olympic silver medallist following a courageous run which saw her finish in a clear second behind the equally talented teenager, Athing Mu from USA.
To wrap-up her season, Hodgkinson triumphed at the Diamond League final in Zurich as she beat a stacked field to win the 800m to cap off a stunning 2021.
Muir has also been nominated for the European Athletics Women’s Athlete of the Year award following her magnificent Olympic silver medal in the 1500m.
After success at the world and European indoors in recent years, and a European outdoor title in 2018, it was a huge step for Muir as she reached the podium in one of the most hotly contested events of the Games.
With the supreme Faith Kipyegon (KEN) sealing the gold medal, Muir fought superbly to move away from Sifan Hassan (NED) and claim a well-earned Olympic silver medal. In doing so, she revised her British record to 3:54.50.
The Scottish athlete also improved her 800m personal best during the 2021 season, lowering it to 1:56.73 at the Monaco Diamond League, to move into third on the women’s UK all-time rankings.
She also earned victory over 1500m at two further Diamond League events in Gateshead and Eugene.
You can do vote via the European Athletics Facebook and Twitter accounts by clicking on like’, ‘share’, ‘retweet’ and ‘favourite’ of athletes you think deserve to win. All these factors are then added together for a final ‘fans score’ for each athlete.
Voting information:
Keely Hodgkinson – Women’s Athlete of the Year – Twitter | Facebook
Laura Muir – Women’s Athlete of the Year – Twitter | Facebook
Keely Hodgkinson – Women’s Rising Star– Twitter | Facebook
More information can be found HERE.
Closing date is midnight CET on Monday 3 October.
Courtesy of British Athletics
