4J Studios National Athletics Academy new intake as 19 join

Monday 22nd November 2021

The 4J Studios National Athletics Academy

scotttishathletics are pleased to confirm the latest intake in our 4J Studios National Athletics Academy.

And athletes, coaches and parents will gather for the first time in person since 2019 later this month when we host a Training Camp at the Inverclyde National Training Centre in Largs.

The 2021 cohort features 19 athletes with some new coaches involved and some returning.

Covid-19 issues clearly affected our plans to host activity for the 4J Studios National Athletics Academy during 2020 and indeed early this year.

The large Year 1 intake features four athletes who were eligible to join us last year but had their entry deferred (there was no new intake in 2020).

We also have three more athletes are joining us via revised consideration standards which were adjusted because of limited competition opportunities in 2020 (in which to achieve Academy qualifying standards).

New Standards issued for 4J Studios National Athletics Academy

Three of this Scotland 4x400m Women U20 Record-breaking team are in the Acadmey: Sofia Vidak, Katie Johnson and Rebecca Grieve (photo by Mark Shearman). Rachel Callan also pictured.

Athlete and Coach (club in brackets):

Louisa Brown (Garscube Harriers) Alex Chalmers

Corey Campbell (Team East Lothian) Alister Russell

Olivia Clarke (Corstorphine AAC) David Arnott

Kai Crawford (Aberdeen AAC) Aaron Odentz

Rebecca Grieve (Pitreavie AAC) Francis Smith

Lewis Hainey (Inverclyde AC) Norrie Hay

Kate Harvie (Edinburgh AC) Linda Nicholson

Katie Johnson (Edinburgh AC)

Amy Kennedy (Cumbernauld AAC) Colin Sinclair

Reuben Macdonald (Giffnock North AC) Dudley Walker

Dean Patterson (Glasgow School of Sport) Norrie Hay

Meghan Porterfield (VP-Glasgow) Alison Grey/Henry Hunter

Molly Reville (Edinburgh AC) Linda Nicholson

Rosie Sharples (Falkirk Victoria Harriers) Bryan Roy

Paige Stevens (Falkirk Victoria Harriers) Alison Grey/Allan Smith

Segae Ugbe (Montrose and District AAC) Colin Christie

Sofia Vidak (Glasgow School of Sport/Falkirk Victoria Harriers) Norrie Hay

Libby White (Ayr Seaforth) David Watson

Valencia Wright (Giffnock North AC) Ross Cairns

Julie Mollison leads our 4J National Athletics Academy project (photo by Bobby Gavin)

‘We are delighted to announce the intake for the National Athletics Academy and want to thank our sponsors, 4J Studios, for their continued support,’ said Julie Mollison, our Head of Coaching, Development and Talent.

‘Our first ‘in person’ gathering is taking place on November 26-28 at the sportscotland National Training Centre at Largs.

‘We did manage to stage virtual camps during the Covid-19 lockdowns and that helped us keep in touch with the athletes and their coaches and parents or support teams.

‘There’s a busy programme being planned for the Training Camp weekend with practical sessions as well as class-room education. As in the past, coaches and parents are very much involved as well as the young athletes themselves.

‘We cover a whole range of key issues when working with the Academy and continue to work with feedback from graduates who are now successful Seniors representing GB and NI and/or Scotland.

‘I’d like to thank all the athletes, coaches and parents who are joining us for their help with our initial interviews.

‘We would also thank in advance the Scottish Institute of Sport, the team at Inverclyde National Training Centre and Kilbarchan AAC and Renfrewshire Leisure for their help with plans for training at Linwood on the Saturday morning.’