Cam could not have done more – Druce
CAM CHALMERS ran boldly from the get-go in his 400m semi-final but ultimately failed to progress in what was a decent conclusion to his Gold Coast campaign.
Starting in lane one, he rounded the tight bend quickly and pursued the leaders onto the home straight, but couldn’t use his signature finish to close the distance in a semi-final won by India’s Muhammed Yahiya.
The Guernseyman’s time of 46.34 was his second fastest of the season, behind Monday’s qualifier, and ensured that he secured 13th overall and fifth in semi-final three.
Despite this, Chalmers didn’t qualify for the final but was nonetheless thrilled to have reached this stage in his Commonwealth Games debut.
‘Absolutely loved racing here in the Gold Coast and very proud of making the semi-finals of the 400m with the family here to support,’ he wrote on social media.
Guernsey Athletics development officer Tom Druce is the only other Sarnian to make a Commonwealth Games 400m semi-final and felt that Chalmers ran a well-executed race.
‘It was a good performance. He was hoping to work the first hundred metres quite a lot harder [than usual], which is what he talked to me about beforehand,’ he said.
‘He achieved that obviously, and a lot of people were slightly slower than in the heats.’
Meanwhile, Sarah Mercier is the woman to watch from a local perspective as she puts in her final preparation for Saturday’s 5000m.
The Sarnian woman brings a certain degree of experience to the table, having set Island records in both the 1500m and 5000m in Glasgow 2014.
Mercier nearly caught GB international Steph Twell on the line in placing 15th in the latter.
Following a injury-curtailed build-up to Gold Coast, she has worked herself into good shape and ran a 17-08 road 5k in Barrowford last month.
‘Training has been going well since arriving in Australia and I’m very happy with my recent sessions,’ she said.
‘I’m expecting a great atmosphere in the stadium and am now looking forward to getting on to the track to compete.’
However, the Guernsey woman will be hard-pushed to contend in a field graced by Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, whose accolades include a 14-18 PB and London World Championships gold.
Mercier maintains that her aim is instead to soak up the atmosphere of her second Commonwealth Games and put in a performance that she is proud of.
‘I’m looking forward to the race experience, lining up with such a competitive field,’ she added.
‘I will just run my own race to ensure I put in my best possible performance on the day.’
Lee Merrien is due to run the marathon at the end of the week.
