Sprinters are quick to get off the mark
ORGANISED athletics activity is cantering back from the complete standstill caused by lockdown.
Very small groups of high-performance athletes have been booking training sessions at Footes Lane after Guernsey Athletics Club regained access to the venue, albeit within the strict limitations of lockdown exit stage one.
Bookings are available only to selected athletes, who must observe social distancing rules, and group sizes must not exceed five, including a specified coach.
Athletics development officer Tom Druce welcomed this progress, even if he has been hard at work allocating training slots.
‘It’s a little bit of an elongated process, because you can only have groups of five on the track, and you only have those daylight hours to play with,’ he said.
‘You think you have a long day, but you have got until 6pm [due to the lack of floodlights] and everyone wants it for an hour-and-a-half.’
Among his own charges, female sprinters Abi Galpin and Vicky Mann have pounced on the opportunity, as long-jump ace Jordan Kelly trains with or near sprint stars such as Josh Allaway and Josh Duke.
It certainly makes a welcome change from solo lockdown training, which came with the additional obstacle of poor weather.
‘It has really helped for the sprinters because of the wet ground we’ve had,’ the development officer said.
‘It’s going to be a really positive thing and I am excited – they are going to have that bounce to get back into training.’
Further progress can be expected in stage two, which should allow up to 30 members per session.
A GAC statement said the aim is to allow as many members as possible access to the track as soon as they can.
‘However, unfortunately at this stage and particularly with the five-person limit at the facility and unavailability of floodlights, this simply isn’t possible yet,’ the statement added.
‘The amount of usage is going to be monitored and reviewed on a fortnightly basis and if there is capacity – and coach availability to oversee the facility usage – then there may be an opportunity to open to more members.’
A series of closed virtual distance races – solo time-trials for members only – is taking place this week to help tide over the club’s endurance ranks.
