Boosting field numbers a priority for Gibraltar
THE outdoor track season is due to begin shortly and, with it, many of Guernsey’s seasoned athletes will be competing with one eye on Gibraltar 2019.
The 2018 edition of the Intertrust Track and Field Challenge series comprises various fixtures that they hope will attract not only high-quality local competition but will also provide many opportunities for a gifted few to achieve Island Games qualifying standards.
The opening meet takes place next Sunday, 29 April, and will include various track races from the sprint hurdles to the 1,500 metres, interspersed with several field events.
Those focusing on the longer distances need not be disappointed, as there are three 5,000 metres events and one 3,000 metres on offer throughout the season.
They will also benefit from a series of endurance-oriented open meets that complement the main Intertrust fixtures by bringing events such as the steeplechase and 10,000 metres to the spotlight.
‘I plan to get back on the track at Footes Lane for the Intertrust meetings to run the Island Games standards and help the other guys achieve personal bests,’ said new Team England pick Ryan Burling, who will raise the standard of the distance events as he targets the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres in Gibraltar.
In addition, the new ‘Field Fest’ events scattered throughout the season should help raise competitive depth in the sometimes-overlooked jumping and throwing events.
‘It is to address the current bias towards the track [events] in our Island Games team,’ said local athletics development officer Tom Druce.
‘We want to put the emphasis on trying field events out for athletes of all abilities.’
‘Getting these away from the track meets means that people are more likely to try field events, as they don’t have a track event to contend with,’ he added.
The Intertrust Athletics Games scheduled for early June allow local athletes to face off against strong national-level competition, with athletes such as new Commonwealth 200m medallist Leon Reid having headlined the competition over the last few editions.
All-in-all, the 12 competitions on the calendar will provide captivating competition for local athletes right up to the final fixture on 9 September.
