Two years ago that came in winning a surprise long jump gold at Guernsey 2023, but she made a huge impression in another way on the first day of Orkney 2025’s athletics programme at the Pickaquoy Centre.
She covered 11.47m for bronze in a competitive women’s triple jump, becoming Guernsey’s first track and field medallist of the Games while also adding 5cm to the Island record.
The U23 athlete had not previously broken 11m – and in fact no Sarnian had since 2008, until Sofia Mella’s breakthrough performance last month.
Yet Hancock found inspired form through yesterday’s competition, hitting 11.26m on her third effort, followed by 11.39m and then her 11.47m – which proved decisive in the medals. She edged the fourth-placed athlete Abbie Taylor of Shetland by just 1cm.
Watch: Jamie Ingrouille caught up with Vicky Hancock after her medal ceremony
Her success was followed by Guernsey horizontal jumps coach Holly Drake securing a top-five finish on 10.47m.
‘I’m so happy,’ the U23 athlete said after a competition won by Jersey’s Zara Asante (11.61m).
‘I’m really surprised to be honest, because I knew I was in good form but I kind of just wanted a PB.
‘I obviously did, but getting a medal as well, I’m really happy.’
Speaking about the Island record, set by Kimberley Goodall nearly 20 years ago, she added: ‘It wasn’t something that I was thinking about.
‘I was trying to get over the 11m barrier, really, and obviously I’ve exceeded that.’
Hancock has one of the busiest schedules of a Sarnian track and field athlete in Orkney, including potential relay appearances, but also the sprint hurdles and a long jump title defence.
She is not getting ahead of herself when it comes to repeating her golden leap from two years ago.
‘We’ll have to see, obviously. Clearly I’m in good form but having just done this amazing at the start of the week, I’m going to have to try and recover properly.’
The women’s 10,000m – Sunday’s sole track final – had proved a tough outing for distance runners Nix Petit and Vanessa King.
As Manx athlete Christa Cain battled the unwelcome heat for a huge Games record of 35min. 16.83sec., Petit spent around 3,000m at or near the front of a decent group contesting the bronze-medal position.
But the home Games 5,000m medallist ultimately dropped back to finish seventh, still nearing her season’s best with 38-49.84. This followed Games debutante King’s mid-race retirement.
Guernsey’s other track and field prospects mostly avoided any banana skins and progressed through their heats.
Firstly, Amelia Hart ran a 400m PB of 57.56 to win her heat and make tonight’s final.
The in-form Nic Ackermann ran 50.29 for second in his men’s heat and so returns for the semi-finals tonight.
Over the 1,500m heats, Richard Bartram and Chris Bain both finished third in near-identical times – 3-58.87 and 3-58.97 respectively – to progress.
Abi Galpin and Tilly Beddow both came through headwind-impacted 100m heats to make tonight’s ‘semis’.
Daniel Pike progressed as a non-automatic qualifier in the men’s event after running an 11.47 heat.
Fellow 100m sprinter Josh Duke picked up an injury while 400m runner Emily Pike also missed out on reaching the next stage.
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