Chalmers overcomes unkind heat draw

Spectators tuning in early for Cameron Chalmers’ heat one 400m opener were treated to a solid 46.16sec. season’s best from the Guernseyman.

This nevertheless made for a tense wait, as placing fourth did not grant automatic qualification and Chalmers was left hoping for one of the six fastest losers’ spots.

As the rounds progressed and few runners challenged Machel Cedenio’s initial heat-winning time of 45.68, it became increasingly clear that he would indeed advance to the semi-final.

Chalmers eventually qualified as second fastest loser and 13th fastest overall, shifted up by the disqualification of English rival Matthew Hudson-Smith due to lane infringement.

He now finds himself running against, among others, his heat winner Cedenio, whose 400m best is 44.01, Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald, a 43.93 man, both sure to pressure Chalmers into a quick time.

Guernsey Athletics Development officer Tom Druce called Chalmers’ heat draw as ‘unfortunate’ but felt his semi-final draw is more favourable, despite being set to run tight in lane one.

‘I think he was a bit unfortunate as he had quite a fast heat and would have automatically qualified in all but one of the other heats,’ said Druce.

‘He is quite happy with the semi he is in in terms of personnel in it, so it is quite good that he is looking it from that perspective.’

Younger brother Alastair, who recently turned 18, has been training well in anticipation of tomorrow’s 400m hurdles heats.

Alastair’s personal best of 52.06 won him the English U20 Championships last year and he hopes to soak up the Gold Coast atmosphere as he targets a World Junior Championships qualifier of 51.30.

‘Training has gone really well - of course, the first few days were hard getting used to to the heat and time zones but, at the moment, training’s gone really nicely and [has been] really smooth,’ he said.

‘It’s just the last few minor adjustments now, chilling out and preparing mentally and physically and hopefully on the day I’m just going to run well, run a personal best and hopefully run a World Junior standard.

‘It’s going to be amazing, I can’t wait and to open up at the Commonwealth Games as your first major championships is quite incredible.’

Kyron McMaster’s 47.80 was the fastest time of 2017, and he will exert heavy influence on the hurdles field, which is sufficiently concentrated that all qualifiers advance straight to the final.

Cameron will compete in the third of today’s semis at 11.12 BST.