Athletics

Over the 2025/26 season, Neil Lafferty has had an exceptional year, consistently performing at a very high level and establishing himself as one of the leading masters athletes in Scotland, with recognition at UK level.
Neil has delivered across track, road and cross country, showing real versatility and consistency throughout the season.
On the track, Neil produced outstanding championship performances at the Scottish Athletics Masters Championships. Indoors, he secured silver in the V45 1500m (4:21) and gold in the 3000m (9:21.02) in February. He carried this form into the outdoor season, winning gold in the 5000m (16:06) and gold in the 10,000m (33:26), completing an impressive set of national titles across distances.
On the road, Neil continued to perform at a very high level. He achieved a bronze medal in the V40 category at the Scottish 10k Championships (June) and set a 10k personal best of 32:49. Over 5k, he recorded a 15:35.01 personal best at the Fast ‘n’ Flat race (April) and followed this with a 15:45 performance to place 2nd at the Scottish Veteran Harriers 5k (June), underlining his consistency and competitiveness.
His performances also brought wider recognition, placing him among the top-ranked athletes in the UK for his age group.
Neil also stepped up successfully to the marathon distance, completing the London Marathon (April 2026), where he secured bronze in the V40 category at the Scottish Marathon Championships and recorded an outstanding personal best of 2:32:01.
In cross country, Neil has been equally impressive. He represented his country at the British & Irish Masters Cross Country International, where he won team silver in the V45 category, a significant achievement at international level. Domestically, he claimed gold at the Scottish Athletics Masters Cross Country Championships (January 2026), further reinforcing his position at the top of his age group.
Alongside his individual success, Neil remains a key member of Greenock Glenpark Harriers, contributing to the club’s strength and success across competitions. He is someone the club can rely on, both in terms of performance and commitment.
What really stands out about Neil is his consistency and work ethic. Across the full season, he has competed regularly, delivered strong results, and continued to improve. He leads by example and sets a high standard for others within the club.
Overall, Neil’s achievements across the 2025/26 season speak for themselves. Success at national level, representation internationally, UK-level ranking, and strong performances across all disciplines make him a highly deserving candidate for Senior Sports Personality of the Year.

Athletics

Over the 2025/2026 season, Simon Okiti has once again had an outstanding year and, importantly, has continued to improve on what was already a very high level after winning this award last year.
At club level, Simon has led from the front. He was named GGH Senior Track & Field Champion and Most Meritorious Senior Athlete, which reflects not just his performances but his consistency and contribution throughout the season. He is now the fastest athlete in Inverclyde across the 60m, 100m, 200m and 400m, which says a lot about both his talent and the work he continues to put in.
Nationally, Simon has been competing right at the top end of Scottish athletics. He won the Scottish Athletic League 200m title and the Scottish University Indoor 200m title, and also picked up a Bronze medal in the 200m at the Scottish National Indoor Championships. On top of that, he made national finals in the 60m, 100m and 200m, showing how competitive he is across the full sprint range.
He has also taken another step forward at British level this season. Simon reached the semi-finals of the 60m and 200m at the British University Indoor Championships, and was part of a 4 x 200m relay team that made the final. He also contributed to a bronze medal in the 4 x 100m relay at the British Athletic League, showing his value in team settings as well as individually.
One of the biggest markers of his progress this year is his selection for the Scottish Athletics 4 x 100m Commonwealth Games Relay Squad, which reflects how highly he is now regarded within Scottish sprinting.
Simon is currently ranked number one in Inverclyde and in the top 10 in Scotland, and continues to push himself against stronger competition year on year.
What stands out most this season is that he hasn’t stood still after last year’s success, he has improved, stepped up to a higher level, and shown he can compete consistently at national and British standard. That progression, alongside his performances, makes him a very strong candidate to retain this award.