Guernsey Press

Mercier shines on Merseyside

SARAH MERCIER renewed battle with the UK’s finest at the Liverpool Cross Challenge and her performance was one of her sharpest to date.

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Sarah Mercier ran her fastest time yet at the Liverpool Cross Challenge. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 17017355)

The annual event incorporates GB’s team trial for the European Cross-Country Championships and has arguably become Britain’s most competitive cross-country in recent years, attracting elite depth beyond that of even the ‘Nationals’. Mercier is no stranger to the Liverpool Cross and has consistently been Guernsey’s top prospect among such strong opposition.

This time round, she ran a well-judged 27min. 48sec. to take 28th in a five-mile senior women’s race won by Welsh elite Charlotte Arter in 26-10.

That was the quickest the Sarnian has ever run on the staple course and only three positions outside her record placing from four years ago.

She also made over two minutes on Orkney’s Anna Tait, a runner who relegated her to 5,000m silver at the Gotland 2017 NatWest Island Games.

The two figures directly ahead of her were Easter Festival star Eleanor Davis – whose 10k best of 33-33 is over a minute clear of Mercier’s island record – and 800m international Adelle Tracey.

Mercier can now continue her cross country season in even higher hopes than before.

‘I was very happy with the race,’ she said.

‘I felt that I was running strongly, particularly in the second half of the race, and it was one of my best placings in this event.

‘It is a great opportunity to compete in a high-quality race and a good benchmark at this point in the season.’

Northampton-based Dan Galpin ran in the 6.1-mile senior men’s race but had to be content with 219th in 35-20 after a build-up hampered by illness.

There, Ross Millington led out the 620-strong field in 28-dead.