Olympian Merrien ready to race again

SIXTEEN months after he ran his last race, Lee Merrien is set to return to the start line.

The traditional GIAAC Boxing Day race at L'Ancresse – a little under five miles – may lack the spectator interest and atmosphere of the London Olympic Marathon, but Merrien will finally have his competitive adrenaline flowing again next Thursday and he admits he can't wait.

'I'm really excited about the prospect and looking forward to it.

'It's a traditional race and getting out there running and running hard will be good,' he said yesterday.

The 34-year-old is finally over the sports hernia injury which has sidelined him for more than a year and the Olympian is not planning to hang around, now that he has been given the all-clear and his body is no longer reminding him of the injury every time he goes out running.

More in today's Guernsey Press.