Training fall puts two out of Commonwealth Games
SAM WALLBRIDGE’S dream of competing at the Commonwealth Games is over – or at least for another four years.
The 400m hurdler sustained a badly fractured collarbone at the Queensland Athletics Centre three days after arriving in Australia to acclimatise himself with conditions ahead of a race this weekend.
The extent of the break is such that he will have to wait until 4 April, the very day the 21st Games in Gold Coast officially open, for surgery.
His absence has also cost Tom Druce one last chance at Commonwealth level.
Selected on the basis of completing the 4x400m relay numbers, the former Island 400m record-holder has withdrawn and will not now travel.
Druce was due to fly out to Australia only a few hours after the accident and had to make a quick decision as to whether to step on the plane.
‘I was in my hotel when Sam phoned me from hospital as he knew I was just about to get on the flight [from Manchester].
‘It was 4.30 in the morning and I had two hours to make a decision before checking in.
‘I texted Garry Collins, the chef de mission, and he message me back to say the decision as to whether to travel was up to me.
‘I then managed to get hold of Dale Garland and Lee Merrien to discuss it with them. I was on the limit before having to check in.
‘Officially, I was only going as an athlete and the thought was “do I want to be away from family for a month when you cannot compete”.
‘You have got to go with your gut feeling and I decided not to get on the plane.’
Druce, who had retired from competition after his injury woes at the 2014 Glasgow Games but returned to training with a view to enabling a relay squad to compete in Gold Coast, said it was too early to say whether he has run his last race.
But he is gutted for both Wallbridge and the Chalmers brothers, who now form half of a reduced four-strong track and field team.
‘We thought we could possibly get to the final,’ said Druce.
More in Wednesday's Guernsey Press.
