Dale Garland will run over 200m at Foote’s Lane in next week’s Fortis Golden Series meet.

DALE GARLAND says his goals have not changed as Rhys Williams, his biggest rival for the Great Britain vest in the 400m hurdles at the Beijing Olympics, has pulled out through injury.
Williams, 24, son of ex-Wales and Lions rugby star and international sprinter JJ, suffered a stress fracture to his right foot during Sunday’s Welsh Championships.
It was his first appearance since last year when he suffered a similar injury.
The six-week recovery period rules him out of the Olympic trials in July.
The 27-year-old Garland felt sorry for the Cardiff athlete, but said it was irrelevant as his aim was still to reach the A-standard qualifying time of 49.2sec. for the Games.
‘I need to get the A-standard time – that’s my goal and this doesn’t changed that,’ he said.
‘Whether he’s there or not, it doesn’t make a difference. This year it’s almost like I’m racing against myself and not worrying about anyone else.
‘It’s a shame for him, though.’
Garland is hoping to get the time at the weekend’s 29th Spar European Cup in Annecy, France.
His best time over this distance is 49.79.
Williams’ best over the 400m hurdles is 49.09secs, which he set in 2006.
However, Garland was not sure whether Williams would have been able to get back to his best before Beijing.
‘He’s been struggling with injuries for the last couple of years and he’d be struggling to get these sorts of time again,’ he said.
After the European Cup, Garland will be back in the island for the Fortis Golden Series at Foote’s Lane on Wednesday evening.
He will attempt to break his own 200m island record of 21.8.
Garland thinks that this will be a good training exercise for him.
‘I think my speed has been lacking this season and it will be good to step down to the 200m and see where I’m at,’ he said.
‘If I do get the island record, it shows that I’m going the right way.’
Another big race on the night is the men’s 600m that will see 21-year-old Tom Druce try and break Keith Falla’s record of 79.6sec., which has stood for 38 years.
‘In terms of physical shape I’m capable of getting it, but it’s a very difficult record to get,’ said Druce.
‘I’m confident of doing it.’
Druce, who won gold in the 800m and was part of the Guernsey 4x400m relay team who also won gold at last year’s Island Games in Rhodes, paid respect to the record-holder.
One of Guernsey’s Sporting Heroes, Falla was a versatile runner who represented Guernsey at two Commonwealth Games before he died while still in his 20s.
‘He was one of the first big names in Guernsey athletics,’ said Druce.
‘He led the way. He tragically had his life cut short and who knows what he would have achieved.
‘It’s a real shame.’
And another race to watch next Wednesday is set to be the women’s 800m where Sarnians Helen Hadjam and Kimberley Goodall will take on Rose-Anne Galligan.
The 21-year-old Aldershot, Farnham and District runner has run 2-09.5 over 800m this season.
Hadjam does not know Galligan but is pleased that she will be competing against someone of her calibre.
‘I’m really excited and hopefully the weather will be all right,’ she said.
‘I’m looking forward to it.’
The 30-year-old Hadjam has been suffering lately with a quad strain but she ran on it on a couple of days ago and said it now feels fine.
She is aiming to run a sub 2-10 to qualify for the national championships.
‘It’d be nice to go under 2-10 and do it in Guernsey,’ she said.
‘The aim is to get to the nationals.’