CRAIG PICKERING lived up to his top of the bill status at the opening Fortis Golden Series meeting at Foote’s Lane yesterday evening. The 20-year-old sprinter is one of the hottest properties in European and world athletics. As a friend and fellow Bath University student of Dale Garland he was invited over to try and break the all-comers’ 100m record.
And into a stiff 1.38mps headwind, he smashed the 10.7sec. standard that was set in 2001 by Adam Potter also of Bath, with a time of 10.4.
‘It was hard work,’ he said afterwards.
‘I got out quite well and didn’t fight the wind too much. Then I relaxed into it.
‘I was quite pleased with that.’
There was an expectant hush in the crowded Garenne Stand before the race as the competitors waited for the gun. And as soon as the bang went off, a determined Pickering, who is the current UK indoor 60m champion, was machine-like to leave second-placed Ben Ellis of Winchester in his wake.
Guernsey sprinter Jonny Guille came home nearly two seconds behind Pickering in 12.1 in fifth.
‘It was certainly an experience,’ said the 18-year-old Elizabeth College student.
‘He was gone before I even noticed he was there. At least when he’s in an Olympic final I can say I’ve raced against him.’
The title of the fastest white man in the world has been placed on Pickering but he said Australian Joshua Ross is quicker. He also has no interest in gaining that particular accolade.
‘I try to ignore it as a lot of people make a lot of that,’ he said.
‘All I care about is being the quickest that I can be.’
The meeting got off to a flyer as 19-year-old Bath student Emily Bonnett won the women’s 400m hurdles. Next up Guernsey’s 400m hurdles specialist Michael Batiste was the star as he took the men’s 200m.
‘It was quite good as I don’t usually do the 200m,’ said the 17-year-old.
‘So it was quite good to a get a quick race as it’s quite essential for the 400m that you get a quick first lap in. My stamina is quite strong because I come from a long distance background so I’ve been working on my speed this year.’
The women’s 200m was won by Bath University’s Emma Heath.
A time of 13.8 by Chloe Huxster saw her win the junior girls 100m and Andrew Coleman took gold in the junior boys’ event.
After Pickering powered to his fine victory, Will Bodkin grabbed the honours with a 2-08 PB in the boys’ 800m before the crowd got ready for the men’s race.
And this contest did not fail to entertain as Guernsey’s Island Games champion Tom Druce was pushed all the way to the line by Brian Markham of the Aldershot, Farnham and District club.
Druce posted 1-55.1.
‘Very pleased and relieved to get through it after my injuries,’ he said.
‘To win in front of my home crowd was great. They roared me on down the home straight when I was getting tired.’
Sarnian Helen Watts also looked on to taste success in the women’s 800m as she led into the final straight, but Vale of Aylesbury’s Carolyn Boosey pipped her on the line.
‘I didn’t think I’d win. I thought I’d left it too late,’ said Boosey afterwards. Watts’ comsolationm was a new PB of 2-17.9.
Meanwhile in the field, Guernsey’s James Brehaut posted the longest effort in the javelin with a throw of 48.45m as Jersey’s Simon Phelan won the men’s high jump with 2.10m.
Bath University’s Serita Shone shared the honours in the women’s high jump with Sarnian Erica Bodman as they both reached 1.60m.
Then it was on to the last two events of the night that featured that Guernsey’s star athletes - Garland and Lee Merrien.
First up Garland did not disappoint as he broke his own all-comers’ record in the 400m with a time of 46.5sec. that was a personal best and a new island record as well.
In taking gold he beat big Welshman Bruce Tasker and Ben Ellis of Winchester.
‘I want to be running fast for the Island Games so to get a personal best now is brilliant,’ he said. It’s also nice to race against guys of that calibre in front of my home crowd.’
Next up Merrien had a real fight on his hands in the men’s two miles as he took on Moumin Geele.
Merrien sat on the shoulder of the Somalian until the first bend of the last lap where he broke free to cross the line in 8-46.8 much to the delight of the large Guernsey support as the time broke the 45-year-old all-comers’ record.
‘I felt strong today, a lot more so than I did four years ago [in the Island Games],’ said Merrien.
‘The crowd was fantastic and I probably enjoyed that more than the Island Games. The crowd was probably bigger tonight as well.’
Article posted on 31st May, 2007 - 12.00am
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