The Jersey Spartan and CIAC member was presented with the prestigious award by five times Olympic gold medallist and TV pundit Michael Johnson, in front of a 450-strong crowd at the Marriot Hotel, Glasgow, on Saturday night.
The nomination is recognition for an avalanche of medals, titles and records the strapping youngster has earned over the past 12 months.
Standing 6 ft 7 in and still growing, the former Haute Vallée youngster, now at Highlands, has been in superb form in both shot and discus over the past two years.
Said an incredulous Johnson, a former world record holder at 400m, looking up to the towering Jersey youngster, ‘Just how old are you?’ Stevenson, who had also been at a coaching session with top official Mike Winch during his trip to Scotland, said: ‘It was a brilliant evening, a great end to the year.
It was a real thrill to go on the stage.’ Just 17 next month, his progress overseen by UK coach John Hillier and Jersey Spartan AC officials, he has amassed the following intermediate age honours: UK School Games shot gold; English Schools shot gold; UK Schools gold; Scottish Nationals shot and discus gold; Amateur Athletics Association shot and discus silver; Jeux des Iles shot gold, discus silver.
He is the Scottish intermediate record holder in shot and is very close to the discus mark, and also holds a host of records at club and county.
Jersey’s athletics development officer Andrew Winnie, a Scot himself, said: ‘It’s brilliant news and a fitting reward for all his hard work.
I’m so proud of him.’ Stevenson, watched by mum Sue, beat Sean Watson, a 400m runner, and hammer thrower Chris Benest to the award.
Stevenson’s father Rob is from Scotland, his mother from Wales, but he was born in England, before coming to Jersey as a toddler.
He has also been invited to perform at Balmoral next year at the Highland Games, possibly in front of the Queen.
