The 17-year-old outpaced even his best efforts of last year with a 10.95sec. clocking for 100m at Sunday’s Aztec Track and Field Series opener, which marked the debut of new, even-numbered age groups for juniors, together with the start of the Faroe Islands 2027 qualifying rush at Footes Lane.
The star U18 went well within the new Island Games A standard at a sun-kissed track as his nearest chaser, U20 Daniel Pike, carded a ‘B’ qualifier of 11.42.
‘To open with a personal best in a sprint event right off the bat, when you’re getting towards not being in that childhood phase when you get PBs year on year, is very encouraging,’ development officer Tom Druce said.
‘It’s a great start.’
In a separate women’s heat, U16 Amelie Van Heerden looked unassailable and produced her own Games A standard of 12.39 for the third-fastest time of the day overall.
She also logged her second-quickest time to date and went within 0.12sec. of her best in a performance that Druce called ‘very encouraging for the rest of the season’.
The flat sprint had been preceded by a few separate heats over barriers and the 100m hurdles delivered, with two 15-year-old girls going under what would have been the A standard.
However, under specifications of their U18 age group, they were jumping over barriers 8cm lower than what adults face and so their times are not eligible for rankings or standards.
Nikola Vagule’s move up to the senior distance came with a victory and 15.45 clocking, with Olivia Whitmore following just 0.22sec. behind.
It bodes well for the future, as matching those times with senior specifications would lift them to fifth and seventh on Guernsey’s all-time list.
In the longest track event, the 1,500m, 13-year-old Paul Friedrich dominated a senior-level top heat in an English Schools qualifying time of 4-17.79.
Achieving the challenging standard shows he is following in the footsteps of his older brother Emil, a medallist at that level, who was present to pace him and help cover the moderate headwind along the back straight.
‘His brother has been previously and done very well, so it’s good to see him getting that time – it’s very impressive,’ Druce added.
He took a clear win from U18 Daniel Jamieson's 4-41.75 after smashing his own personal best by a gigantic 48sec.
In the same race, Nix Dobson claimed the women’s honours in 4-51.32, with U16 Grace King chasing her home in 4-53.06. Both were within the Games B standard.
Van Heerden doubled up with a 300m victory in 41.90, holding off two U18 rivals, as Whitmore posted 42.92 on her debut and Joselyn Ford lowered her best to 43.29.
The 16-year-old Tom Holt made his mark in the 400m.
Formerly more focused on the half-mile, he rewarded his shift in focus with a significant PB of 52.65.
U20 Darcey Hodgson took the girls’ honours for the distance in 1-00.57.
In the field events, U16 Victoria Jackson made a significant leap in her long jump performance.
Beaten out only by the top two boys, U16 Finley Nicolle (5.34) and U14 Blake Jackson (5.08), she landed just short of the 5m barrier that marks a significant milestone for Guernsey women.
Her 4.94m leap, covered in her very first effort, allowed her to beat jumps coach Holly Drake by 0.26cm and added 0.36m to her own previous best.
Josh Avery picked up the win in the javelin, throwing 44.38m.
