Athletics and running achievements in 2023

2023 has been another highly successful year of athletics achievements. We have seen athletes and runners receive awards and be placed in podium positions at international sporting events. We have shared progress against the England Athletics Strategic Plan and once again our Regional Volunteer Awards highlighted the huge contributions volunteer individuals and teams make to the success and enjoyment of our sport. 

Commonwealth Youth Games

Starting with our young athletes; in the Commonwealth Young Games in Trinidad and Tobago in August; England won 24 medals to top the athletics table, with gold medals for Maddie Down and Pheobe Gill.

A participant in England Athletics Paralympic Talent Programme, 16-year-old Rosie Porter joined the 32-strong England team competing in the T38 100m and the F38 long jump.

England Athletics Regional Volunteer Awards

As a sport we are indebted to the volunteers that make athletics and running happen. The Regional Volunteer Awards are organised in partnership with our Regional Councils. Over the past 2 months we've been holding celebratory events across the country where we recognised and celebrated the fantastic contribution that athletics and running volunteers make to our sport.

Club volunteer milestone social media assets

While National Volunteers Week and our Regional Volunteer Awards provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate volunteers across the country, we wanted to do more to allow individuals / club leaders to recognise the achievements of volunteers all year round.  Our volunteer milestone social media graphics allow volunteer achievements to be shared on social media.

England Athletics dominates the Sporting Equals Awards 2023

Our sport had winners in five categories in a night of celebration at the Royal Lancaster Hotel. 

• Katarina Johnson-Thompson won the Peloton Sportswoman of the Year award.
• Zharnel Hughes won the University of Leicester Sportsman of the Year.
• Ayesha Jones won Youth Sport Trust Young Sportsperson of the Year.
• UK Sport Rising Star of the Year went to Emmanual Oyinbo-Coker.
• England Athletics sponsored this category – Coach of the Year and a star of our sport won – Leon Baptiste.

Hannah Cockroft wins Disability Sportswoman of the Year

Hannah Cockroft followed in the footsteps of previous Sportswoman of the Year award winners such as Dame Kelly Holmes, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Dame Denise Lewis, Eilish McColgan, Christine Ohuruogu MBE and Paula Radcliffe MBE. Hannah won the Citi Disability Sportswoman of the Year 2023. Katarina Johnson-Thompson (funetics ambassador) was also shortlisted but pipped to the post by Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps.

funetics ambassador Katarina Johnson-Thompson placed third at Sports personality of the Year 2023

Katarina Johnson-Thompson has ended a fantastic 2023 for the sport of athletics by being voted by the public into third place at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

The third-place finish at these prestigious annual awards comes in recognition of Katarina winning the second heptathlon world title of her career, overcoming injury troubles to post two personal bests and to take the overall victory in the event.

England Athletics 2021-2032 Strategic Plan progress

Earlier this month, England Athletics issued an update on its strategic plan having launched it two-and-a-half years ago.

Putting athletes and runners at the heart, the strategic plan focuses on creating opportunities, enhancing experiences and powering potential.