Shetland-born Jersey resident Claire Wilson, who is not able to run for the hosts in 2015 after living elsewhere last year, will represent the Scottish island in the women’s 3,000 metre steeplechase at FB Fields next week after one of the three original entrants – Hitra’s Turi Malme – withdrew.
Isle of Man 2001: 800m silver
Guernsey 2003: 1,500m gold; 800m and 4x400m bronze
Shetland 2005: 800m and 1,500m gold
Rhodes 2007: 800m and 1,500m gold
(all for Shetland)
Isle of Wight 2011: 4x400m gold; 800m and 1,500m silver (Jersey)
Jersey 2015: 3,000m steeplechase (Shetland)
With competition rules stating that an event must have at least three competitors, Jersey 2015 athletics co-ordinator Andrew Winnie was almost forced into pulling the plug on the race, which has never before been held for women in the Games.
But three-time 1,500m Games gold medallist Wilson, who was originally left out of the Shetland squad, had other ideas, and put her name forward to ensure the remaining two athletes – travelling from the Isle of Wight and Faroe Islands – still have the chance to run.
‘Seeing Jersey as my home from home I couldn’t let two athletes travel all the way here to then be told there is no race,’ said Wilson. ‘So I told Andrew Winnie, who has coached me since I was 11 years old, to ask if I could be part of the Shetland team as I am ineligible to run for Jersey having left and returned.’
Despite having never competed in a steeplechase event (or even trained for it), the 29-year old – whose Shetland vest is reportedly being delivered via post this week – is looking forward to a new challenge in front of her adopted home crowd.
She continued: ‘I always like to keep fit and I have been training with the Jersey athletes, so even though I have not prepared like I usually would for such a big competition, I am in decent form.
‘I started my barrier training on Wednesday … luckily it went well and I can hurdle off both legs, which is a bonus!
‘I know the support is going to be wild at all the finals so I’m not going to put any pressure on myself. It will be the first time I have ever run in the steeplechase, but I will go out and give it my best shot. I may not be as successful as previous Games, but I am just happy to be part of it.’
Wilson will line up alongside the Isle of Wight’s Grace Crumplin and Faroese athlete Bjørk Herup Olsen on Tuesday 30 June at 7.40 pm. Due to the limited entry list, only gold will be presented.
