Tom Druce, right, celebrates after setting a new island record for the 600m, erasing Keith Falla’s 38-year-old mark. Runner-up Matt Bailey congratulates him. (Pictures by Adrian Miller, 0599292)

TOM DRUCE accomplished his mission at the second Fortis Golden Series event when he broke Keith Falla’s 38-year-old 600 metres island record.island record.

Guernsey athletics great Falla, who tragically died in his prime in 1975, set his record for the little run distance at 79.6sec. And in front of a good crowd at Foote’s Lane yesterday evening, 21-year-old Druce had one goal in mind – to go faster than this in the final event of the evening.

He did, crossing the finishing line in 78.27 sec. Druce, a 400m specialist, ran a beautifully controlled race in a lively breeze which beforehand had him worried that it would stop him from getting his name in the record book.

‘Wasn’t bad, was it?’ said Druce afterwards. ‘On a still day I reckon I can knock it down a bit more. I felt very good.’