Dale Garland takes over the baton from Tom Druce in Aland, where Guernsey’s gold-medal-winning quartet clocked a Commonwealth Games consideration time. Both will be in Bath for a week-long intensive training camp next month. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0799667)

DALE GARLAND is in a race against time to get fit for the IAAF World Indoor Championships in March.

The 29-year-old Guernsey athletics star, who was part of the Great Britain team that went to last year’s Beijing Olympics, picked up a tear in his calf while training seven weeks ago.

He has hopes of competing in the 400m at the Indoor Worlds in Doha, Qatar, which run from 12 to 14 March.

But to get there, he first has to get through the Aviva World Indoor Athletics Trials and UK Championships that start on 13 February.

‘I’d really like to go to the World Championships, but that means I’ve got to be, in good shape by the second week of February,’ he said.

‘I’ve had the longest spell of my life without being able to sprint. I was out for less time with my groin surgery.’

The Sarnian has recently returned to the track and is feeling good about his chances of staying fit.