LISTEN: ‘GB need Chalmers’ speed to reach final’
CAM CHALMERS will be Great Britain’s strongest available runner for their imminent Olympic men’s 4x400m campaign in Tokyo.
That is the informed view of Guernsey Athletics development officer Tom Druce, who will undoubtedly be one of many viewing the Sarnian’s heat today at 12.25pm BST.
Druce spoke on the latest Guernsey Press Sport Podcast – out now – about the Olympic debut of Chalmers, who has superseded him as Guernsey’s 400m record holder.
LISTEN HERE...
He praised Chalmers’ showings in the first Olympic mixed 4x400m relay, where the Guernseyman helped set up a British record in the heat before anchoring a sixth-place finish in the final.
Chalmers’ name features in the provisional GB men’s quartet and, though still awaiting official team news, Druce fully expects him to return.
‘We know, and Great Britain know, that he’s the strongest guy in that team,’ he said.
‘They’re going to definitely require his speed in that heat if they’re to have any chance of getting into the final.’
Qualifying for that mixed final was no mean feat, with even GB’s national-record performance not enough to progress automatically.
Given his knowledge of GB’s male 400m representation, Druce believes making tomorrow’s final will be an even greater challenge.
‘They’re going to need to all pull together and produce something special to make the final, I think,’ he added.
‘But once you’re in the final, anything can happen, as we know – it’s relays.
‘He’s got to concentrate on his own task as much has he can and I think we’ll just keep an eye on that.
‘I’ll have my eyes firmly fixed on how he does and I think it’s just going to be for the experience for the future, and hopefully some stronger relay teams could come out in the next year or two.’
