Wilson surprised to be running for Shetland again

Middle-distance runner Claire Wilson will once again be donning the blue vest of Shetland at the NatWest Island Games in Jersey.

She will be competing in the 3,000 metres steeplechase, a new athletics event at the games.

Wilson, who has lived in Jersey for over 10 years, said she had agreed at the very last minute to take part. After some withdrawals there was a danger the race might not go ahead as rules required a minimum of three competitors.

She described it as “a total surprise” but was very happy to be back in the Shetland team.

She first competed at the Isle of Man in 2001 when she claimed her first games medal, winning silver in the 800m.

In Guernsey in 2003 Wilson took home a hat trick of medals. Along with a superb gold in the 1,500m she took bronze in the 800m and led the 4x400m relay squad to another bronze.

When Shetland staged the games in 2005 she retained her 1,500m gold and won the 800m title into the bargain.

Wilson last represented Shetland in Rhodes in 2007 when she won her third gold medal in the 1,500m and took the silver in the 800m.

In 2011 she was part of the Jersey team for the island games in the Isle of Wight. She won silvers in both the 1,500m and 800m and was part of the gold medal-winning 4x400m quartet.