GIAAC athletes gearing up for Games
THE trio of Ed Mason, Cameron Chalmers and newcomer James Bougourd all shone as Guernsey's top athletes were in action at the FB Fields last weekend.
At the venue where this summer's Island Games meet is to be held, the Jersey Spartans-organised Le Masurier Open was an opportunity to attain qualifying criteria for those Games.
With the team set to be announced a month from now, many took that opportunity, including javelin thrower Bougourd, making his competitive debut.
More well-known as a local footballer, he has only been training with the GIAAC for a couple of months, but threw a superb 53.18 metres, which is an Island Games 'A' qualifying standard.
Ed Mason's winning time of 9min.57.62sec. in the 3000m steeplechase would have been enough to win a medal at the last two Games, including bettering the gold-medal winning time from Bermuda 2013.
Although GIAAC development officer Tom Druce isn't getting carried away, he admits that 16-year-old Mason is an exceptional talent and could be set for a strong summer.
'In any event from 800m upwards, it is hard to judge things purely by times because Island Games races tend to be very tactical affairs,' said Druce.
Druce was buoyed by the performances of several of his young charges, including Chalmers, who scraped below the 50sec. barrier over 400m for the first time with a 49.99sec. run.
More in today's Guernsey Press.
