ActiveGsy Track & Field Round 3: ‘It’s always going to hurt’
As the 400m race drew to a conclusion at the ActiveGsy Track & Field Series, the volume went up in the stands.
Leading the field home, Gian-Luca Robilliard’s eyes focused on the clock as he rounded the bend and it seemed to slow – he stopped it in 50.49s, knocking more than one-and-half seconds off his best to record an Island Games A-standard.
In third place, Kate Bain powered through the line in 59.11s, another chalking their name up above the highest qualifying standard.
One of the last races of the day, the 400m capped off some quality performances elsewhere.
In the long jump, Jordan Kelly went out to 6.92m, his best since 2020 and another A-standard. A positive sign is how his performances have built through the year, having opened up in Jersey at the start of April with 6.52m and jumped 6.72m in claiming a silver medal at the Hampshire County Championships.
It was the first time this season that the 5000m had been held, and Nix Petit took full advantage in a year where she has already set new personal bests over 1500m, 3000m and on the road 5k.
Her 18:27.94 was a near 30 second improvement on the track and well inside the Games B standard. See how the race unfolded on our Facebook page.
In the 100m, Isabelle Lowe stormed through to 12.92s, her first time under the 13s barrier in a wind legal race.
Unsure of exactly what shape he was in, Gian-Luca went out to see what he could hold on to.
‘I would have been happy at the end of this race to get a sub 52,’ he said.
‘So to run away with 50.49s is unbelievable.’
He has already raced over 800m and 1500m in the ActiveGsy Series, taking the win both times.
‘I’ve always preferred the 800. But I really enjoyed that race out there. So I think a couple more 400s and then we’ll see.’
There is still clearly time to come, he has rarely started from the blocks before, for one thing.
He hit it hard from the gun, striding out along the back straight to maintain a quick pace, but relaxed enough so as not to use up too much energy.
‘The last 100 is always going to hurt, it’s always going to, no matter what, so I just knew I had to hold on,’ he said.
He saw the clock on 36s as he went through 300m.
‘I thought ok, I’m definitely going to be on for around that PB time. Then all of a sudden, the clock just seems to be going so slowly, which is obviously a good thing because it just looked like I was going to run quicker and quicker and to say I nearly ran sub-50 is unbelievable.’
His appetite to improve is apparent.
‘I love just going out running and it’s something that always benefits me, you know, mentally and physically, it’s so good for you,’ he said.
‘I’m always motivated to train. I enjoy training hard, even though at the end, it may look like, actually, I hated it. But I look forward to those tough sessions.’
Gian-Luca’s target now is an Island Games spot: ‘it doesn’t matter if it’s the relay or it’s in a main event, anything.’
The meeting also saw a strong field of U13 and U15 athletes accumulating points in the new Guernsey Athletics’ Compete Against Yourself initiative.
The scheme encourages them to try new disciplines, and with 16 taking part in the U13 100m, 14 in the U13 800m and 11 boosting the long jump field it seems to be sparking strong interest.
Results wise, it was a good day for Emil Freidrich, who topped the table going into the event and went on to lead the U13 boys home in the long jump (4.22m) and 100m (13.67s), both times from Wilf Dorrian.
Amelie Van Heerden was the quickest U13 girl over 100m (13.99s), while Olivia Whitmore leapt to 3.86m to lead the long jump.
Tom Holt (2:27.74) and Orla Montgomery (2:33.45) led their respective 800m.
For full results, visit here. The next meeting takes place on Thursday. You can enter here.
