LEE MERRIEN says he’s in the shape of his life and could go a second or two quicker than his latest island record-breaking 1,500m performance at Solihull. The Bath-based Guernsey runner did not surprise himself with his fastest run since the summer of 2002 when he booked his place at the Commonwealth Games by erasing Keith Falla’s long-standing island record at the AAA Championships.

‘I knew I was in good shape and expected to go close if I did not beat it,’ said Merrien, who now hopes to be moved up to the A race at the next British Milers’ Club Grand Prix meeting.

Ahead of that is an appearance at next weekend’s Inter-Counties Championships at Bedford and later in the summer he will pull on the Channel Islands club vest at the British Jubilee Cup semi-final at Eton.

Merrien’s commitment to the CIAC cup cause will please club manager Andrew Winnie who saw his men’s team strengthen their position in Division Three (East) at the weekend, while the women moved up to sixth of 25 teams in Division One.

Winnie says the enthusiasm and team spirit is ‘the envy of other teams in the top flight. However, the toughest test is yet to come.

‘The next meeting on 5 June brings us head-to-head with three of the top women’s teams in the league. This will require another momentous team performance in order to maintain our top six place.’