Swiss timing puts Ala just shy of record

After finishing an agonising one-hundredth of a second off his former coach’s Guernsey 400m hurdles record, back-to-back British champion Alastair Chalmers is waiting until next season for another crack at a mark that has stood for 12 years.

Chalmers lowered his personal best to 49.55sec. last Saturday for third at the Resisprint International in Switzerland, finishing off what he called a ‘really good development year’.

However, the 21-year-old believes that the perfect run continues to evade him.

‘I was really happy with it,’ he said after finishing behind France’s Ludvy Vaillant (48.80) and British star Chris McAlister (49.25) in the Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds.

‘A bit bitter-sweet in some ways, because I put the race together really well but my top bend just wasn’t good enough and I definitely lost a few tenths there.

‘At the end of the day, I’ve trained really well throughout the whole year, haven’t really got injured, and I’m still British champion and ran a personal best.

‘I couldn’t really ask for much more, but I just know there’s so much more in the tank, and that is what’s slightly frustrating.

‘When I can get it all right, and I can cross the line and know that my race has gone perfectly, I’ll know what I’m capable of.’

After a restful month in Guernsey, the Paris 2024 Olympic hopeful is eyeing a solid winter’s training under Matt Elias’ coaching.

Over in Wales on Saturday, Abi Galpin shattered the 24sec. barrier to bring her Guernsey women’s 200m record into new territory.

The Bath University student posted a rapid 23.96 for runner-up at the Welsh Championships, 0.11sec. behind winner Ellie-Mae Bandy.

The following day saw 18-year-old Chris Bain clocking 1-54.97 for sixth in the senior 800m final at the Scottish Championships.

Meanwhile, on domestic soil, Steve Dawes ended a racing hiatus of nearly four years to dominate the Cliff Series opener, covering the tough Havelet-Petit Port-Havelet six-miler over 3min. clear of second place.