A proud end to the Goldcoast Games for Team Guernsey

Sunday 15 April 2018

Cyclist James McLaughlin carried Guernsey's flag at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, after one of the island's leading athletes of all time took 8th place in the marathon on a scorching hot day.

Lee Merrien has represented his island and his country numerous times, with a number of records under his belt, and he had previously said that the Goldcoast marathon was likely to be his last major event meaning all eyes were on him on Sunday 15 April.

He may not have matched his PB or won a medal but he did his island proud, drawing on all of his previous experiences to keep going as other runners fell victim to the high temperatures.

Despite the event starting at 08:15 local time, the temperature still reached the high 20s. British favourite, Callum Hawkins, who was leading the pack for most of the race, collapsed and had to be taken away for treatment, with other athletes also failing to finish as the Australian sun shone. But Merrien kept going and despite being pictured grimacing as he made his way around the 26.2mile course, he came home in 8th place in 2.24:10

His club said it was a surprise placing but well deserved following a solid second half run.

Other events on the final day of action saw Team Guernsey perform strongly in the cycling.

In the men's road race, Tobyn Horton came seventh, James McLaughlin 29th and Jack English 33rd. 

That strong performance in the road race along with other personal successes earlier in the week, saw McLaughlin chosen to carry the Team Guernsey Flag during the closing ceremony.

The Guernsey Commonwealth Games Association said it was "delighted to announce that JamMcLaughlin will carry the closing flag for Guernsey, following his sixth place finish in the Cycling Men’s Individual Time Trial, on the Gold Coast."

McLaughlin had finished that race in a time of 49:54.12, with first place going to Australia Cameron Meyer in 48:13.04, second place was won by England’s Harry Tanfield in 48:43.30 and third place went to Hamish Bond 48:45.45 from New Zealand.

Garry Collins, Team Guernsey's Chef De Mission said: “I am delighted for James; he has worked very hard this week. We have been so very close again at these games for a medal, with James in sixth, Tobyn Horton seventh in the Road Race, Lee Merrien eighth in the Marathon, Todd Priaulx ninth in bowls and including many just outside the top ten from Shooting, Badminton and Swimming, we look forward to Birmingham in 2022.”

Team Guernsey's final results are below:

 Pictured top and above: All images and social media content courtesy of The Guernsey Commonwealth Games Association and Guernsey Athletics Club