GUERNSEY should have its own Town-front mile race and capitalise on its fast and beautiful courses, says the island’s top distance runner, Lee Merrien. ‘It’s a great time to strike as the word is spreading about Guernsey among elite athletes,’ he said.
‘They are hearing what a beautiful island we have and that we have fast courses. They want to come and compete here.
‘We should capitalise on what we’ve got and expand further,’ said Merrien, who has recent experience of town-front miles.
The Commonwealth Games star ran in Bermuda a couple of months ago and said the experience was fantastic. With financial support, it could be repeated in St Peter Port, he says.
‘In Bermuda the crowd for the last 400 to 500 metres was five or six back. The street was lit up and there was music. I can’t liken the atmosphere to anything else I’ve experienced,’ said the man who competed in front of 90,000 at the MCG in Australia.
Merrien’s idea is supported by Mick Woods, the top UK endurance performance coach, who brought a dozen top runners over for Easter from the powerful Aldershot, Farnham and District Club. They included European junior cross-country champion Steph Twell and the GB distance star, Susie Bush.
‘I think it’s a great idea,’ said Woods, who is employed by UK Athletics which, via its website, gave the island unexpected publicity on the back of the record-breaking performances by Twell, Bush and Williard Chinhanhu over the four-day festival.
‘The Town-centre race idea would appeal,’ said Woods, who has direct control of some of the best young runners in the country.
The whole weekend could be developed into something major in the UK calendar, said Woods.
‘It has the potential to produce some of the quickest times in the country. It’s as quick as anywhere nationwide.’
‘Marketing is the key,’ he added.
Article posted on 11th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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