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Athletes and coaches nominated for 2020 Leeds Sports Awards
Sportswoman of the Year nominees
LBU graduates and Team GB athletes Laura Weightman and Alex Bell have both been nominated for the Sportswoman award.
Laura is nominated after a successful season saw her claim seventh in the women’s 5000 metre IAAF World Championships final in Doha and secure an all-time top 25 time for the mile of 04:17:60.
Alex’s achievements this year saw her claim her first sub two-minute 800 metre run and finish fifth in the IAAF World Championships semi-final.
Alex and Laura have been nominated alongside cyclists Lizzie Deignan and Katy Marchant, county cricketer Katie Levick, GB triathlete Jess Learmonth, WBO flyweight champion boxer Nicola Adams, GB diver Lois Toulson and Leeds Rhinos’ Courtney Hill.
Sportsman of the Year nominees
Team GB race walking star Tom Bosworth has been nominated for the award alongside an illustrious list of sportsmen in Leeds.
Tom achieved the highest-ever position for a British race walker at the IAAF World Athletics Championships, finishing seventh in the men’s 20km race walk in September.
Tom will be competing for the award alongside IBF World Featherweight Champion Josh Warrington, England Cricket Test Captain Joe Root, Team GB diver Jack Laugher, Under 23 British cyclist Tom Pidcock and Leeds United’s Pablo Hernandez.
Coach of the Year nominees
LBU Head of Athletics Andy Henderson has had a successful year coaching the university’s athletics club and was influential in the success of fellow nominees Alex Bell and Laura Weightman.
Andy’s commitment this year to his athletes saw him claim the England Athletics ‘Dave Sunderland Coaching Award’ for his services to the sport.
Race walking coach and lecturer at LBU, Andi Drake has been nominated in the category for another strong campaign with the National Race Walking Centre, where he operates as Director.
Andi supported and coached three race walkers who competed in this year’s World Athletics Championships, including Sportsman nominee Tom Bosworth.
Both LBU coaches have been nominated alongside Leeds United’s Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds Rhinos Womens’ Grand Final and Challenge Cup winning coach Adam Cuthbertson.
Disabled Sportswoman of the Year nominees
LBU graduate Kadeena Cox’s star continues to rise in 2019. The Team GB Paralympian has her sights set on the upcoming 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Doha, from the 7-15 November, after an impressive display at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Paris earlier this year.
Kadeena has been nominated alongside ten-time world champion Hannah Cockroft, dressage para-athlete Izzy Palmer, Paratriathlon Commonwealth Champion Jade Jones-Hall and Leeds Rhinos’ wheelchair rugby league international Jodi Boyd-Ward.
Disabled Sportsman of the Year nominees
Para-cyclist David Stone has been nominated in a strong category for the Disabled Sportsman of the Year.
David competed at the World Road Cycling Championships in Yorkshire last September, where he claimed victory in the men’s T1-2 race.
David has been nominated alongside cyclist Adam Duggleby and Leeds Rhinos wheelchair rugby league player James Simpson.
How to vote and nominate for the 2020 Leeds Sports Awards
Nominations and voting are now open for the Leeds Sports Awards, with tickets going on sale soon.
For more information visit leedssportsawards.co.uk