Guernsey’s 400m hurdles great went into the London Athletics Meet looking to close the gap on Kriss Akabusi’s British record, as he enjoyed the privileged position of being the sole home representative in his event at the top tier of single-day athletics competition and lining up with world record-holder Karsten Warholm.
Chalmers ultimately finished sixth in 48.81sec., some 0.51sec. outside his PB, at a sun-kissed Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
But the 26-year-old was far from downbeat afterwards.
‘To be competitive with those guys, they’re the best in the world, so I was right there – it’s great,’ he said.
‘This is the best stadium in the world and to come here and race for my second time now is the most “home” feeling you’ll get.
'The crowd make it a special atmosphere, and it’s always such a great event they put on.’
He had to run in lane one even given the withdrawal of the USA’s Trevor Bassitt, which did leave him directly chasing a field of athletes with season’s bests in the 47sec. range – or faster in Warholm’s case.
He did not look outclassed by the athletes immediately outside him and on the home straight even picked off remaining USA representative Caleb Dean, a 47.23 man at his best.
But as the Norwegian giant put the finishing touches to a world lead and meeting record of 46.61, and Germany’s Emil Agyekum followed in a national mark of 47.45, a fatigued Chalmers battled towards the line well outside his time target.
The new father now has a week to prepare for the opening heat of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games 400m hurdles.
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