Guernsey make the most of home advantage to lead after first round of athletics inter-insular

Friday 28 June 2024

A revamped athletics inter-insular was enthusiastically received at Footes Lane.

Various revisions have been made to the formula to help grow the event and involve more young athletes as they gathered points through not just how they placed but also whether they produced a PB.

A move to a two-legged format, with the Guernsey team travelling to Jersey next week, has also added another dimension.

The U13 and U15 combined scores see Guernsey leading by 2,288 points to 2,053; in the girls combined by 1,211 to 1,141 and boys by 1,077 to 912.

Jersey carry an advantage in the U15 girls (622 to 546)  and U13 boys (611 to 492).

Pictured: Taya Smit bringing home the relay.

Traditionally each island would nominate two scoring athletes before each event, often leading to slim fields of just four.

This time around it was simply the first two from each island to score, with busy fields as a result because everyone was in with a chance.

Guernsey Athletics development team was keen to offer the inter-insular for the younger athletes because of the engagement team events and trips drive.

It also gives opportunities for those that might not yet be at county level to compete in England.

Pictured: Olivia Whitmore won the U15 hurdles.

“The buy-in and the atmosphere at the track was genuinely fantastic,” said Guernsey Athletics’ Sports Development officer Tom Druce.

“I would say the buzz around there and the kids enthusiasm really was the overriding feeling of the day.” 

Pictured: the field drives out the blocks in the 100m.

The Guernsey meet was held within the regular Aztec Track & Field Series, adding to the atmosphere at the track.

Fantastic conditions on the day led to some strong performances.

They included Daisy Le Page winning the U13 girls 70m hurdles in 11.89s and Olivia Whitmore the U15 75m hurdles in 12.16s.

Pictured: Daisy Le Page put in a strong performance over the hurdles and was also in 100m relay action where the U13 girls won.

U15 Emil Friedrich was in good form, throwing 30.44m in the javelin , nearly 13m ahead of his closest competitor, and 35.53m to win the discus. 

In the younger age bracket, Kyle Macfarlane threw 25.54m to win the javelin.

Guernsey’s U15 boys sprinters also had a good day.

Wilf Dorian led home the 100m in 11.84s from Seth Le Tissier in 11.96s, and the pair went on to claim another one-two in the 200m, with Wilf clocking a wind-assisted 23.93s and Seth 24.1s.

Full results are available here.