Athletes shook off the rust at the opening round of the Aztec Track & Field Series last night.
It was the first chance for senior competitors to put down markers for the next Island Games in Orkney, while among the junior athletes there was a noticeable performance for Emil Fredrich in breaking the U15 boys 300m best.
Action began in the field with the shot, where Jersey decathlete Evan Campbell led the field with 13.77m from Guernsey’s Stevie Marley who threw 10.60m.
Pictured: Evan Campbell.
Pictured: Stevie Marley.
It was a busy evening for Campbell, returning to the Footes Lane track where he won bronze in the shot and gold in the 110m hurdles at the last Island Games.
Another of the gold medalists in Guernsey 2023, Abi Galpin, lined up in the 100m in a mixed field that was led home by Campbell with a new PB (11.41s).
Pictured: The 100m.
Galpin was second in 11.89s, comfortably inside the Island Games women’s A-standard in her first run over the distance this season and exactly the same time she ran during Guernsey 2023.
Pictured: Abi Galpin.
Further back in the field Emily Pike (12.91s), Tilly Beddow (12.94s) and Edie Dorrian (12.96s) renewed their rivalry, all running under the Games B standard in breaking the 13s barrier.
While the A race in the 1500m was something of a procession for Jack Le Tissier, who won in 4:15.57, it saw new PBs set by Nicolas Ackermann (4:22.98) in second and Jack Rees (4:24.80) third.
Pictured: Jack Le Tissier.
A cracking race unfolded in the second 1500m, where U15 girls Grace King and Orla Montgomery battled to the line. Grace won in 4:49.88, while it was a PB for Orla in 5:00.71.
Pictured: Grace King leads Orla Montgomery in the 1500m B-race.
Emil Friedrich, who had earlier thrown 9.88m in the shot, let out a roar of delight as he crossed the line in the 300m well inside his 40s target with 38.52s.
Behind him, Taya Smit was the leading U15 girl with a new PB of 46.65s.
The 400m closed out proceedings on the track.
Pictured: Abi Galpin crosses the line in the 400m.
Campbell was clearly enjoying his Guernsey visit, crossing the line in 51.40s, another new PB.
Galpin stopped the clock in 55.70s, just outside her best and only other run over the distance from 2022, another Island Games A-standard.
As the sun set over Footes Lane, it was left to the triple jumpers to bring the curtain down on the evening.
Pictured: Jordan Kelly.
Jordan Kelly recorded a best of 11.90m while Amelie Carpentier was the leading women with 9.77m ahead of Holly Drake with 9.68m.
Pictured top: Emil Friedrich ahead of the 300m.
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