Athletics

Simon Okiti, a 21-year-old sprinter for Greenock Glenpark Harriers, has had an outstanding year, establishing himself as one of Scotland’s top young sprinters. Coached by Kenny Morrison and studying Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Glasgow, Simon expertly balances academics and elite athletics. In 2024/25, he became the fastest local athlete over 60m, 100m, 200m, and 400m, achieving a historic sprint hat trick: sub-11 seconds for 100m, sub-22 for 200m, and sub-50 for 400m — a first in the region. Simon won the 100m and 200m at the Scottish National Athletic League and reached finals at the Scottish Track & Field Championships. He earned silver in the 200m and gold in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays at the Scottish Student Championships. Representing Glasgow Jaguars, he helped record Scotland’s fastest 4x100m relay time and secured top-three UK National League finishes. Internationally, he competed in Belgium, gaining valuable experience. Simon’s discipline and achievements make him a deserving Sports Personality of the Year nominee.

Athletics

Oliver Reilly’s marathon journey began with a place in the 2020 London Marathon, which was cancelled due to COVID-19. Undeterred, he completed the distance virtually in October 2020. When restrictions eased, Oliver ran the 2021 London Marathon, setting a personal best of 2:48 and earning his first World Marathon Major medal. He then pursued all six majors to earn the prestigious six-star finishers medal. In April 2022, he completed the challenging Boston Marathon in 2:51. Six months later, he set a new PB of 2:44 in Chicago. In Berlin, he improved to 2:42, followed by a 2:40 PB in Tokyo despite humid conditions. His final race was the 2024 New York Marathon, where injury affected his training, but he finished determinedly in 3:06:36. Oliver’s dedication and resilience over three years to complete all six majors is an inspiring achievement in long-distance running