Black excited as Maguire set to lead sprint relay programme

British Athletics performance director Neil Black admits he is excited for what the future holds for the nation’s sprint relay athletes after confirming that Stephen Maguire will assume full control of the programme from the New Year.

The move marks the final phase of head of sprints and hurdles Maguire's planned transition into his full-time role during the summer of 2014 where he combined working with Rana Reider, leading the successful British sprint relay programme alongside his role as head coach for the Scottish team at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

With the full sprint programme now effectively transferred to Maguire, Reider will leave his full-time post at the British Athletics National Performance Centre in Loughborough and revert to a freelance coach role which is expected to include continued coaching of individual Great Britain and Northern Ireland athletes as part of his established and successful international coaching group.

Black said: “I am delighted that the original vision for my elite coaching team all based within the National Performance Centre is now finally fully in place.

“The relay process which Rana started and which this summer was delivered in tandem with Stephen, has given both sprint relay squads real belief and a solid technical foundation for future success.”

© Sportsbeat 2014