Youth Commonwealth Games: Good start, but agony for Parker

After thrashing Guernsey opponent Jack Oldfield 6-0, 6-0, the 18-year-old multi NatWest Island Games medallist went over on his ankle playing doubles and, following a visit to hospital, has been ruled out of competing for three weeks.

While it brings a premature and abrupt end to Parker’s involvement, Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey president Paul du Feu, who is with the team in the south Pacific, says the injury was the only negative on an otherwise excellent opening day for Jersey’s young athletes.

Dami Williams was in fine form at the track, twice breaking his personal best on his way to a seventh place finish in the 100 metres semi-finals. His time of 10.81 seconds, with which he was both ‘pleased and relived’ to achieve, meant the young sprinter finished tenth overall.

Sam Maher also performed admirably, finishing sixth in the men’s 1,500m final, and clocking a personal best time of 3 min 58.45 sec in the process.

All in action on Day 1, it was also a memorable day for Jersey’s five swimmers, who set a series of personal bests at the Tuana’imato Sports Facility.

Having both broken their PBs earlier in the day, Harry Shalamon and Cameron Swart were at it again this afternoon. Shalamon set PBs in both the 50 fly (26.60) and 100 back (59.80) this morning, before bettering his 50 fly time to 26.59 in the B final. Swart set a PB of 26.67 in the 50 fly.

Although not his favoured event, Nathan Corrigan set a PB (63.20 sec) and qualified for the B

(Cont on page 53) final in the 100m backstroke, before going on to set a new junior Island record of 62.83. Beckie Scaife swam the 50m fly in 30.71.

Despite suffering from an upset stomach, Olivia Pollard performed well in the 50 fly (29.79) and 200 fly and, having had a few hours rest, came back later in the day to finish the 50 fly in 29.51.

Pollard, Scaife, Shalamon and Corrigan teamed up to finish seventh in the 4x50m medley relay final, finishing in a time of 1 min 57.98 sec – over three seconds quicker than their qualifying time.

Jersey general team manager Paul Huddlestone said: ‘The team were ready to race, they were very nervous but the coaches should feel proud of these opening performances.

‘I’m not sure we’ve ever had seven PBs and a tennis win in the first few hours of the Games before.’

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