But Jack Rees’ 3,000m steeplechase triumph at the Southern Athletics Championships in Bedford did evoke some conflicting feelings, as he missed the mark in what seemed his big chance to post a Nationals qualifying time of 9min. 30sec.
The Cardiff University student ran 9-38.33 in a lonely and quite windy race to cross the line second behind Hercules Wimbledon’s Benjy Street, who finished 3.95sec. clear, but was awarded the senior gold due to his rival competing in the U20 age group.
‘It was a good weekend of racing even if I didn’t achieve quite what I set out to do,’ he said after finishing just under 6sec. off his PB.
‘I’m still glad to have come away with the senior win.
‘Hope we can move on from this and keep improving.’
Nic Ackermann shone in his own way, producing another 400m personal best.
The fast-improving athlete built on his recent one-lap breakthrough with a 49.41, which was good enough for fourth in his heat and just 0.11sec. off a National standard of his own.
It progressed him to the semi-finals, where his 50.24 was not enough to advance further.
He had the previous day put down one of his best times yet for the hurdles equivalent, a 56.41, as the fastest runner not to progress beyond the heats.
Guernsey’s current fastest man, U20 Theo Le Tissier, continued to perform at an Island Games A standard level but could not match his recent personal bests over 100m and 200m.
The 17-year-old finished fifth in his heat over 100m with 11.10 before going sixth in the 200m with 22.25.
Guernsey sprint record-holder Abi Galpin went deeper by making the 200m final and placing sixth in 24.81.
She had gone marginally quicker, 24.73, in her heat.
Fellow Island Games star Rhiannon Dowinton ran a season’s best of 15.08 in the 100m hurdles final.
However, the recent Hampshire champion’s effort was only worth sixth in a stacked field where world-class winner Etienne Maughan of Harrow posted 13.24.
Sofia Mella placed ninth in a long-jump contest held against a modest headwind, her first attempt of 5.04m remaining her best.
