Young athletes bolster field in latest ActiveGsy Track & Field meeting

Olivia Whitmore is among the young athletes competing in a new initiative to encourage them to try new disciplines

A BIG entry in the latest ActiveGsy Track & Field Series is an indication that Guernsey Athletics’ new initiative to encourage young athletes to try out different events is paying off.

Called Compete Against Yourself, U13 and U15 athletes gain points for bettering their previous best performances in any discipline. See latest standings.

On Thursday night these youngsters will be among 17 people competing in a stacked long jump field, while they boost numbers in 100m and 800m as well.

Also in the long jump, two of the island’s leading athletes will be in contention.

Jordan Kelly looks to build on his silver medal winning performance in Hampshire last weekend, when he leapt to an Island Games A-standard of 6.72m.

Vicky Hancock secured an A-standard in the triple jump at the last ActiveGsy meeting and takes part in the long jump for the first time this year.

The evening gets under way at 6.15pm with the 100m, with 16 lining up across two heats for the U13s.

The senior women’s race at 6.25pm will be a competitive affair with Edie Dorrian, Isabelle Lowe and Tilly Beddow all looking capable of sub-13 second performances.

The meeting is also the first chance for the endurance athletes to compete on the track locally this season in the 5000m.

That race gets under way at 6.40pm, with Michael Batiste getting a longer race under his belt on the track before switching attention to the middle distance events and first outings at Footes Lane for some years for veterans Pete Amy and Dave Emery.

Nix Petit comes into the race on form over the shorter distances having lowered her 1500m PB twice in two races.

The meeting builds to a climax with a 400m at 7.20pm, where Gian-Luca Robilliard and Jack Le Tissier lock horns again having finished first and second in the 800m in the first meeting of the series and then in the 1500m in the second.

More usually a middle distance runner, Kate Bain continues to work on her speed with an entry in the 400m, having run the 200m in the last meeting.

The meeting concludes at 7.30pm with a field of eight boys and girls running over 300m.

For full start lists click here.

Compete Against Yourself Leaderboards

U23 Girls

Nikola Vagule    8

Amelie Van Heerden    8

Taya Smith    8

Orla Montgomery    6

Indi Warren    6

Lexi Fletcher    6

Rosie White    6

Olivia Whitmore    6

Ava Worthington    4

Jess Merrien    4

Theodora Murray    2

U13 Boys

Emil Friedrich    12

Alfie Roger    8

Tom Holt    6

Harry Watson    4

Seth Le Tissier    4

Shay Le Poidevin    3

Teho Holley-Hill    2

Max Roger    2

Axel Svejstrup    2

Daniel Jamieson    2James Stafford-Bell    2

U15 Girls

Eleanor Jamieson    6

Lauren Gilchrist    6

Darcey Hodgson    5

Kellie Creed    2

Ava Hadjam    2

Edie Dorrian    1

U15 Boys

Thomas Merrien    5

Aron Goubert    4

Jake Taylor    4

Theo Le Tissier    4

Edward Robinson    2

Barney Paxton    2