World Cup success for Guernsey

Friday 13 March 2020

Guernsey's participants have helped a team comprising 'Small European nations' qualify for the last 16 of the Running World Cup, nestled in between South Africa and the UK in second place overall.

The island's runners have been logging their miles alongside peers in Jersey, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man, since earlier this month.

The global event is the world’s first world cup competition where anyone and everyone can compete to run for their own country. In Guernsey's case that is the Channel Islands, as part of the Small Nations group.

Local efforts are being coordinated by familiar face on the athletics scene, Alun Williams - who along with runners Sarah Mercier, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Usain Bolt - is encouraging runners of all abilities to take part. 

Pictured: Guernsey's Running World Cup captain is Sarah Mercier. 

Runners from 200 countries have been taking part and the idea is everyone runs at least 3km, tracked on a smart device, which is added to your own countries' total. The more 3km runs you complete, the more points your country gets. 

In the first week since the event was launched, hundreds of runners from Guernsey have logged their miles, adding to the island's overall total. 

That has helped the Small Nations group reach the last 16, in second place. 

Alun Williams said every mile has helped them reach this position.

"Over 200 countries started in the running world cup so it’s great to see that the small European countries team  which also includes the likes of Gibraltar, Jersey and the Isle of Man has done so well. Currently we are second behind South Africa and just ahead of the United Kingdom. It was great to see so many people involved and recording their times over the past seven days. We were assisted by having such a large turn-out for the Church to Church 19 mile race and we had over 200 attending Park Run. Also lots of runners were out doing their own thing so let’s see if we can keep the momentum going and build on that excellent start." 

Team Captain Sarah Mercier played her part as she trudged through the mud and the hills representing Guernsey and Hampshire at the intercounties Crosscountry race over the weekend.

"There has been a real buzz in the running community locally about the running world cup. My race was pretty tough but at the back of my mind it was good to know that I was clocking up the miles for Guernsey and the Smaller European nations." 

The last 16 competition is now taking place over this weekend, with most runs being completed individually there is currently no fear over coronavirus but the organisers are taking note of any public health advice and will amend their plans accordingly.

There are two group runs for any participants who want to take part, which are currently due to go ahead as planned. They are the Guernsey Parkrun at Pembroke at 09:00 on Saturday 14 March and the Guernsey Athletics Chertsey House Road Series 5k race at Saumarez Park starting at 09:00 on Sunday 15 March.

For more information head to runningworldcup.com.

Pictured top: Inset image - Lee Merrien, Alun Williams, Sarah Mercier and Paul Ingrouille are all supporting the Running World Cup.