Sarah Mercier produced the run of the day in the GIAAC’s Vazon Mile last weekend, slicing six seconds off the women’s course record as she clocked 5min. 7sec. to finish seventh overall. The event was won by Will Bodkin in 4-37. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0797410)

THE GIAAC has an exciting weekend of athletics ahead as over 30 athletes will be competing alongside 600 others at the Hampshire track and field championships.

It will also be celebrating eight decades of the traditional Liberation Day race.

At the championships, the club will be hoping to build on the successes in 2009 when Dale Garland smashed the long-standing 400m hurdles record and Louise Perrio, Lee Garland, Glenn Etherington and Leo Rice all won gold.

Numbers will be slightly depleted this year among the senior athletes, but quality makes up for quantity.

Dale Garland will leave it until the weekend to decide whether he will run the 100m or 200m, but much of his weekend will be taken up in his role as development officer as he oversees proteges such as Rice and Hywel Robinson.

• Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.