Dale Garland hands over the baton to Hannah English yesterday during the final training session for the Guernsey junior schools team before their inter-insular tomorrow. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0803902)
DALE GARLAND is making another last-minute appearance at this weekend’s Aviva World Trials and UK Championships.
Following his 11th hour trip to Aland for the 4×400m relay, the Sarnian star has decided to travel to Birmingham for the AAAs, which double as trials for the World Championships in Berlin.
He booked the flights yesterday, when he reported that his wife Rachael and new baby Zeke were doing well.
He will run in tomorrow’s 400m hurdles.
‘I showed in Aland that my 400 speed is the best it’s ever been,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately, 400m hurdlers in Britain are strong at the moment.’
Both Rhys Williams and David Greene are running against Garland and they have personal bests of 49.09 and 49.58 respectively.
Garland’s best is 49.85.
Three places are up for grabs to go to the worlds with the A-standard time of 49.25 a requirement.
‘To get anywhere near that, the conditions will have to be perfect,’ said Garland.
‘I’d need a dream race.’
Four other Sarnian gold medallists from last week are also making the trip to Birmingham.
They are Kylie Robilliard, Glenn Etherington, Tom Druce and Lee Merrien, who will run in the 5,000m.
The 30-year-old represented Great Britain in the European Cross-Country Championships late last year.
He won gold in the 5,000m and 1,500m in Aland and he is eying up a world qualification spot on Sunday.
‘Three guys who are the fastest over the distance in Britain this year aren’t running, but there are still good guys there who run faster than me,’ he said.
‘I felt quite good in the Games and the body is starting to feel a lot better than it has been so I’m more capable of doing it now than earlier in the season.’
For Druce, the aim is to get into the final.
He was one of the stars on the track in Aland, claiming both the 400m and 800m gold medals. The 22-year-old was part of Guernsey 4×400m relay team as well.
The Bath-based athlete is going to compete in the 400m this weekend.
‘If I run a good race, I should be able to get into the final,’ he said.
‘Hopefully, I’ll get into the race and get dragged along for a fast time. I have got to be confident that I can put a run together to get into the final.’
Druce will have his work cut out as there are currently a number of 400m runners in Britain this season who have been hitting good form.
Michael Bingham, who was part of the British 4×400m relay team at last year’s Beijing Olympics, is the leading light this summer, running a personal best time of 45.05sec.
He is running the 400m in Birmingham this weekend as are other top Britons Tim Benjamin, Robert Tobin and Richard Strachan.
‘It’s going to be hard,’ said Druce.
‘The 400 in Britain this season is a lot better but there is a place in the final for an athlete like myself. I just have to make sure I run faster than the guys around me.’
Etherington, 22, also has a tough time ahead of him.
He won gold in Aland in the 110m hurdles and a strong field is expected in Birmingham.
Fellow hurdler Robilliard has a challenge on her hands as well.
The 21-year-old is running in Sunday’s 100m hurdles.
Article posted on 10th July, 2009 - 2.30pm
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