As part of our passion for supporting homegrown sporting talent, each year we recognise the achievements and progress of up to 24 athletes – hand-picked for their talent by UK Athletics – by inviting them to become SPAR stars.

Athletes of the future

In the past these athletes have included Chris Clarke, winner of the European Junior Championships U20 400m title in 2009 and World Youth Championships U18 champion in 2007, Annabelle Lewis, who won gold in the 4x100m in the European U23 Championships in 2009, and Martyn Rooney, silver medallist in the 4x400m relay in the World Championships in Berlin in 2009.

These SPAR stars are given support and recognition through the SPAR partnership in the form of coaching, sportswear, and the opportunity to take part in the SPAR Sprints Series, races that are held at major UKA events, which give the young hopefuls a chance to experience competition at the top level.

The Outstanding Achievement award

annie

Every year one budding athlete is selected as the SPAR Star who has shown the greatest improvement and achievement. The 2009 SPAR Outstanding Achievement winner, Annie Tagoe (pictured with SPAR's Adam Margolin), showed remarkable progress in 2009 and looks set for a very bright future. Her first ever competitive race was in May 2008 and within nine months she was already winning national medals. Her achievements include Runner Up over 60m and 200m at the England Athletics U17 Indoor Championships in February 2009, victory over 200m at the SEAA Championships, another second place at the Aviva English Schools' Athletic Association Track & Field Championships in July 2009, and then, a month later, gold medals in both the 100m and 200m at the England Athletics U17 Championships in Bedford. All show that she had a truly outstanding season, and that her recognition is richly deserved.

Annie said: “It was brilliant to be selected by SPAR as the outstanding athlete this year. I have been training hard this last year and have had a brilliant season, and it is nice that a company like SPAR recognises up-and-coming athletes like me. I really enjoyed the UKA Awards Dinner that SPAR invited me to, and the adidas kit they sent me was really great. Thanks very much, SPAR!”

Find out more about some of our SPAR stars – the big names of the future – by clicking on their name in the right-hand column.