Ala surges to his first senior national title
ALASTAIR CHALMERS bounced back impressively from his ‘Euros’ misfortune to top the senior England Championships podium on Sunday.
Just one month after taking the England U20 crown and a week after his disqualification in Sweden, the 19-year-old dealt with all-comers at Manchester’s Sportcity arena to seal a maiden national senior title over the 400m hurdles.
Chalmers made a controlled start in the muggy and visibly damp conditions and still trailed Birchfield Harrier’s Efekemo Okoro well into the home straight.
But in an impressive finish, the Bath student in Guernsey colours just pipped the man in black kit as the Woodford white-and-green of Jack Lawrie claimed third.
The fast 50.20sec. time leaves Chalmers with high confidence for next month’s higher-standard British Championships.
‘It was a risky race but I stayed to my plan and it really paid off,’ he said afterwards.
‘I wanted to go out nice and slow for the first 200 and really wind up and come back fast, and I knew that coming into the home straight that I really did have to work.
‘It’s really nice to come away with the win today, knowing that I am in that good shape and, with the terrible conditions, I’m really happy with the time.’
On 14 August and in the build-up to the British Champs, Chalmers will get another key run at the 68th Cork City International in Ireland.
