Mercier breaks 10,000m record
SARAH MERCIER eclipsed fellow distance stalwart Louise Perrio’s island record in a strong showing at Sunday’s Ladywell 10,000m.
The island 5,000m record holder entered the track festival chasing a fast time over the longer distance and was rewarded with a very solid 35min. 2.5sec. clocking, getting the up on an absent Perrio, who had edged out Mercier in a similar event last year to set the previous marker of 35-12.
Perrio’s mark was in jeopardy from the start as Mercier kept up an unwavering pace in her second-ever outing over 25 laps and a strong finished ensured that this was no marginal case.
Mercier, despite falling just short of breaking 35min., was pleased with a solid conclusion to a long season that sparked with April’s Commonwealth Games.
‘I was very happy to finish off the season with a PB on the track,’ she said.
‘It was a tough race but I enjoyed it, I think I paced it well and was able to push on a bit over the last couple of laps but was a bit disappointed to come so close to 35min.’
Mercier was by no means alone among the Guernsey contingent in Kent and regular training partner Jenny James impressed in her own way by slicing a hefty chunk off her PB for an Island Games A standard in a separate heat.
In-form James’ brilliant second half was key to her 37-18.3 finish, worthy of first woman in her race as well as fourth on the Guernsey all-time list.
Also competing at Ladywell, Laura McCarthy was quick off the mark but tailed off in the latter stages towards a still-respectable 39-46.7.
Previous 10,000m record holder Perrio instead devoted her attentions to an open 5,000m in Southampton the previous day, where she put in a decent but relatively tame run of 17-35.7.
