Junior Hines from the Cayman Islands is proving to be somewhat of an Island Games nemesis for 400m hurdler Peter Irving as for the second Games in a row Irving will leave with a silver medal having run 53.81 to finish second as Hines took the gold in 52.67.
Irving said: ‘I was really going for gold today but the guy who won did so in a quicker time than I’ve ever run so I can’t complain, although I probably could have gone out quicker and finished slightly stronger.’
Having qualified for the final earlier in the day Irving, who competes in the 110m hurdles this morning, said: ‘If the final had been a day later I think it would have been better but I’ve also got the 110m hurdles to run and my goal is to get a medal in that too.’
Throwing sensation Zane Duquemin again underlined his potential as he stepped up to his first appearance in a major event as a senior and won a bronze medal with a shot puttof 14.60m.
Finishing 30 cm ahead of the athlete in fourth to earn his place on the podium he said: ‘I was only competing in Bedford at the weekend and then I came straight here and it’s certainly different to Bedford, at least there’s a much bigger crowd.’
With another medal up for grabs in tonight’s discus event – his favoured discipline by far – he added: ‘I’ve never thrown as a senior before so the shot putt result is a PB and I’m hoping to do the same and win a medal in the discus.’
The other Jersey athletes featuring in a final included Jenna Murphy, who was tenth in the long jump with 4.84m, and Victoria Barratt who finished eighth in the 10,000m with a run of 42.24.57 as Guernsey’s Louise Perrio took the win. Toby Edwards finished fifth in the 3,000m steeplechase having earlier qualified for tonight’s 800m final with a qualifying time of 2.01.43.
Gemma Dawkins will take a prime spot in the 400m final tonight after racing to a win in yesterday’s heat in 56.63. From lane three she will be well placed to keep an eye on Jersey’s Sophie Twinam who also qualified, with second place in the heats running 58.34, and starts from lane one.
Coach Andrew Winnie said: ‘It’s been another brilliant day for the athletes with an outstanding two medals and some great qualifying races as well as final performances and plenty more to come.’
