Ala to start his season over 300m hurdles
ALASTAIR CHALMERS is stepping down the distance for an intriguing season bow on Sunday 12 July.
The 20-year-old’s main successes on the national and international stage have come over the 400m hurdles, but after temporarily leaving his training base in Cardiff for Guernsey’s Covid-19 free environment, he will instead race the unusual 300mH distance.
This follows Norwegian Karsten Warholm’s attainment of a world best for 300mH, running 33.79sec. at an adapted Diamond League meet, which has inspired Chalmers to have a go.
‘I want to give the 300 a go and have some fun,’ he said.
‘It will be great to run at my home track and with the home support too. I’ve had some really good performances here in the past and am really keen to do so again on the brand new surface.’
Chalmers was ranked fifth in Britain’s annual 400mH standings last year with his personal best and national U20 record run of 50.07sec.
He later placed fourth at the senior British Championships.
Two of Guernsey’s other leading long-hurdlers, Sam Wallbridge and Peter Curtis, are likely to join him on the start line.
The 300mH forms part of a wide-ranging programme that also includes the first true distance race of the season – a 5,000m.
Further senior Guernsey athletes will be making their event choices in the coming week or so.
