LEE MERRIEN warmed up for next week’s big UK Cross-Challenge cross-country race in Gateshead with a record-breaking performance at L’Ancresse that will raise eyebrows the other side of the channel. In winning race two of the OSA Recruitment Winter League over the GIAAC’s traditional 4.6-mile ‘full course’ Merrien demolished not only his personal best, but ran the fastest ever time for the course.

With a prolonged sprint finish, the CI champion clocked a remarkable 23min. 2sec. to surpass Mark Harris’ 1989 best by 15sec.

The run lifts Merrien above a string of GB international athletes who have run the island’s renowned cross-country course, he rises from 15th in the all-time course rankings to number one.

His previous best was 23-42 a couple of winters ago, but with conditions nigh perfect for the time of the year, he set out with the intention to attack the record and, as he explained, he did so at the end of a period of heavy mileage.

‘It’s the end of a two-week block when I’ve run the best part of 180-190 miles, so I didn’t know what I’d have in my legs.

‘But if I’m running that quick after heavy weeks a sub-23min. is definitely on,’ he added.

Merrien finished nearly two-and-a-half minutes clear of winter league champion and winner of race one this time around Steve Dawes who despite his consistent excellence, has yet to duck under the 25min. barrier for the course.

With a quick time in his sights, Merrien wasted no time in haring away from a field of 66 seniors boosted by more than a dozen top juniors.

‘I probably went out a little bit quick in the first mile and at the crossroads [approximate halfway point] I was on about 12min.

‘When I came over the top in 20min. I knew I could get close to 23min.

‘Conditions were good and even in the middle of the week I thought if it stayed like this, I’d be laughing.’

And while he was laughing when fully recovered, Merrien was breathless after a determined sprint for the finish line in L’Ancresse car park.

Behind him, 19sec. separated runner-up Dawes and veteran Alan Rowe, who was pleased with his own run.

Dawes and Rowe were among a chasing pack of five as they came off the Chouet headland a mile into the race, but with Rowe forcing things on the horse racing circuit, he and Dawes moved away from Dave Dyke, Mark Mercier and Tim Coates.

Dawes subsequently dropped Rowe on the climb away from Rocque Balan.

Other than Merrien, two of the best runs of the day came from Louise Perrio and promising junior Will Bodkin.

The latter ran superbly to finish seventh in 27-56, while Perrio beat her course best in clocking 28-32 for 12th overall and a new island women’s record for the circuit.

‘It was a bit of a surprise,’ said a quietly satisfied Guernsey number one woman.

‘You could say training is going very well.’

Nikki Neal came down from Alderney to finish second woman while Sarah Mercier was third.

Island tennis star Chris Hickling also ran well, placing 21st.

‘The legendary Dave Kreckeler never ran below 24 minutes,’ said race organiser Paul Ingrouille, who added: ‘While the course is generally run on better surfaces than Kreckeler’s days, there is little doubt that this one is significantly longer.’