Gold Coast Commonwealth Games athlete Elliott Dorey surpassed a target he has been chasing for five years at the Loughborough Grand Prix, with the 24-year-old stopping the clock at 3 min 43.93 sec to move inside the top 25 on the UK rankings for 2018.
Dorey improved his own Jersey Spartan AC record with a 3.45.04 run in May, but the outright mark had proved elusive. Campbell’s 3.44.20 record – one of the oldest in Jersey athletics – had stood since 10 May 1972, pre-dating the formation of JSAC.
‘It’s a very nice feeling to have finally done it,’ said Dorey.
‘I ran 3.46 in 2013 so it has been on the radar since then. I took a break from the sport in 2016, but after that I got back into it and I knew it was something I could achieve.
‘I’ve known for the last year that I’m capable of running under 3.40 – it’s just about getting the right race.’
The former Hautlieu student finished fourth in the men’s A race at the British Miler’s Club competition, after benefiting from the presence of an early pacemaker.
‘There have been a few races this year where the pace has drifted and I’ve had to have a fast finish off 62-second laps. I’ve run 3.45 and 3.46 off slower paces, so I knew I could go faster if I could find a faster race and on Saturday the pacemaker was targeting 59-second laps, which was perfect.
‘Up until the last 400m anything can happen and you don’t know how you’re going to be feeling, but then at 200m to go I saw the clock and realised I was under [the record], so I gave it everything I had left.
‘I’ve known for quite a while I was in the shape to do it but it’s not “job done”, I’ve still got a couple of seconds in there this year.’
I don’t think there’ll be anything this year [international events], but hopefully next year there might be a few opportunities
Dorey is set to appear at the British Championships in Birmingham this weekend – an event shown live on the BBC – before setting his sights on full-time athletics and international consideration.
‘I’m going to give it everything over the next year, trying to make running work as much as possible,’ he said.
‘I don’t think there’ll be anything this year [international events], but hopefully next year there might be a few opportunities.’
Campbell still holds the Island 200m, 400m, 800m and mile records.
