The 4J Studios National Athletics Academy

Paddy Burns CEO of 4J Studios (left) and chairman Chris van der Kuyl flank Carmen Neat and Jack Lawrie at the launch of the 4J Studios National Athletics Academy (photo by Bobby Gavin)

The 4J Studios National Athletics Academy is a two-year education programme for developing track and field athletes which aims to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies that will be essential in helping them achieve the overall outcomes of the programme.

The Academy was set up in 2013 to better support and direct young athletes, their coaches and parents as they progress towards senior status. In May 2019, we were delighted to announce a four-year sponsorship agreement with 4J Studios to support the programme.

We feel that, when partnered with hard work and dedication, the opportunities, support and guidance offered will help prepare the athlete ‘teams’ for the challenges ahead – ultimately assisting them to fulfil their performance potential in the sport as seniors.

Downloadable National Academy Brochure

The aims of The 4J Studios National Athletics Academy are:

• Improved retention rate of our best age group athletes into the Senior ranks
• Increased representation on GB U18, U20 and U23 teams en route to CWG Birmingham 2022 and beyond
• Increased representation on GB Senior teams and GB Performance Programme
• Greater number of young athletes on CWG 2022 team and beyond
• More medals at CWG Birmingham 2022 and beyond

The benefits of the programme include:

• Coach education opportunities
• Athlete education opportunities
• Parent education opportunities
• Subsidised event specific competition opportunity
• Physiotherapy/functional movement screening support
• Subsidised training camp opportunity
• Physiotherapy support

Members of The 4J Studios National Athletics Academy from November 2023 are listed below, graduates can be found here

Year 1

Athlete	Club	Coach
Joshua Mungin	Kilbarchan AAC	John Rodger
Rhys Crawford	Aberdeen	Nichola Crawford
Craig Shennan	Giffnock North	Dudley Walker
Jamie Connor	Giffnock North	Dudley Walker
Andrew McWilliams	Lasswade	Linda/Kirk Smith
Holly Ovens	Fife AC	Steven Doig
Scarlett Wilson	Giffnock North	Lynne MacDougall
Matilda Brockley	Annan	Linda Nicholson
Louis Whyte	Moorfoot	Linda Nicholson
Bruce Robb	Pitreavie
Abbey Kennedy	Kilmarnock	Jim Green
Omar Bajo	Edinburgh AC	Bill Walker
Tehillah Ikechukwu-Okonkwo	Law	Thomas McTaggart
Millie McClelland-Brooks	Inverclyde	Norrie Hay
Matthew Power	Livingston	Celia Peerless
Sam Fernando	Fife AC	Steven Doig
Anastasia Cotorobai	Pitreavie	Francis Smith

Year 2

Athlete	Club	Power of 10	Coach	Power of 10
Adam Donnachie	Stirling University	Profile	Janelle McGurk	Profile
Callum Hendry	Victoria Park City of Glasgow	Profile	John Costello
Ben Heron	North Ayrshire AC/Strathclyde University	Profile	Chris Baillie	Profile
Freya Howgate	Perth Strathtay/Loughborough Students	Profile	Joe McDonnell	Profile
Ethan Lorimer	Harmeny AC	Profile	Andy Ross	Profile
Reiss Marshall	Fife AC	Profile	Steve Doig	Profile
Angela Mcauslan Kelly	Aberdeen AAC/Princeton	Profile	Jim Green	Profile
Oliver Patton	Kilbarchan AAC	Profile	Robert Hawkins	Profile
Finlay Ross	Harmeny AC	Profile	Andrew Ross	Profile
Matthew Tait	Dunfermiline Track and Field	Profile	Allan Smith	Profile
Hannah Taylor	Aberdeen AAC/UCL	Profile	Nicola Crawford	Profile
Amy Teasdale	Kilbarchan AAC	Profile	Sarah Dempsey
Cameron Thores	Corstorphine AC/ Stirling University	Profile	Lewis Innes	Sonya Ellis

Note 1: the initial consideration standards for The 4J Studios National Athletics Academy are the U17 Power of 10 UK 10 targets.

Note 2: The list above reflects the coach and club that each athlete was working with when they entered the Academy