The Team GB discus thrower flew to the Island with her family on Monday for a week’s stay, and had planned to attend a Jersey Spartan AC event alongside fellow international Kirsty Law and Caesarean athlete Shadine Duquemin. However, a lost pre-travel test meant she did not receive clearance in time for Tuesday’s competition.
Lally, who competed at the 2017 World Championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games, had intended to apply for an isolation exemption on arrival – valid if a negative result is produced no more than 72 hours before travelling – but the Leicester-based centre where she took a pre-test misplaced her swab. The 33-year-old was therefore required to rely on a test taken at Jersey Airport, but was still awaiting confirmation of her result long after the competition had taken place.
Both Law and Duquemin’s results from the UK centre came back negative, meaning they were eligible to compete, although it proved to be a night to forget for Law thanks to three no-throws.
Lally received a negative result from the Government of Jersey on Wednesday – clearing her to compete in further UK Athletics-ratified competitions in St Clement on Thursday and Sunday.
‘I do think I’m in shape to throw far so it would be really nice to get a couple of opportunities to showcase it,’ said Lally, who sits second on the UK all-time rankings with a personal best of 65.10m.
‘I felt that being in Jersey – everything had looked good competition-wise and weather-wise, so it was an opportunity to throw far that I’ve missed out on, and it wasn’t anything to do with me.
‘I’m building towards the British Championships [4-5 September] and the Olympics [Tokyo 2021] so I want regular competitions now so I can do as well as I can.’
All three athletes – currently the top three throwers in the country – are coached remotely from Qatar by Duquemin’s brother, Zane.
Law, who set up a video call with the Island Games men’s discus record holder minutes after Tuesday’s event, said: ‘I’m going to iron out a few things for Sunday.
‘The competition was run really well, I’m grateful to everyone here for putting it on. It’s just rubbish that Jade couldn’t compete.’
