Chalmers hits top spot in Euros list
FIT-AGAIN Alastair Chalmers has put his recent British Universities Championships disappointment behind him and blasted to the top of the European U20 rankings.
Guernsey’s 400m hurdles ace feels he is definitely heading ‘in the right direction’ after running 50.14sec. for second place at Belgium’s senior international Ifam Outdoor Oordegem.
This was just three-hundredths outside his British U20 record from last year and puts him behind only race winner Sebastian Rodger in the senior GB rankings for 2019, coming off a lengthy bout of glandular fever that blunted him in Bedford.
‘I’m already a second and a half ahead of last year, so it’s all going in the right direction,’ said Chalmers while comparing his run to his 51.64 at last May’s Loughborough International.
‘I could not really ask for more at the moment – especially after being quite ill.
‘Running 50.1 this early really just does show me that I can, and hopefully will, run mid-49s or even lower and maybe get that "Worlds" standard for Doha later in the season.’
He hopes to build upon this at the AtletiCAGenève in Switzerland on 15 June as he continues to chase his former coach Dale Garland’s senior Guernsey record of 49.54, achieved when he was 28 years old.
A season’s best for Island Games 400m hurdles prospect Sam Wallbridge further enriched the competition, but that was not all that the bank holiday weekend had to offer.
Ryan Burling ran a surprise 10km personal best on Monday, clocking 31-10 at the Vitality London 10,000 as Mo Farah sped to victory.
This was only Burling’s second race appearance after a lengthy injury and came in an event where women’s Games prospect Jenny James hit an encouraging 36-43.
