Island Games: Guernsey set sights on 2015 athletics top spot

Guernsey have been set a target of topping the athletics medal table at the 2015 Island Games.

Bermuda headed the athletics table at the 2013 Games, with Guernsey in sixth place after two gold medals.

Sam Wallbridge won the 400m hurdles and Sarah Mercier triumphed in the 5,000m, while Guernsey also won four silvers and one bronze.

Jersey are hosting the next Games and Guernsey plan to send an athletics team of between 30 and 40 competitors.

"We expect to have representation in almost all sports disciplines and our aim has to be to regain our position of topping the medal table, but more importantly we will seek to ensure that every athletes hits their target regarding performance levels," said Guernsey Athletics president Alun Williams.

Several of Guernsey's top athletes, including Olympic marathon runner Lee Merrien, former Great Britain hurdler Dale Garland, island 400m record-holder Tom Druce and Island Games 100m record-holder Kylie Robilliard, missed the 2013 event.

Guernsey are now advertising for an athletics team manager for 2015 after Geoff King and Steve Allaway, who were in charge in Bermuda, stood down.

"We are seeking to appoint a team manager who will liaise with the Guernsey Island Games Association, athletes, parents and coaches to ensure that the team is well-prepared for the Games as it could possibly be," Williams added.

The Games will get under way on 27 June 2015 and run until 3 July.