Team Shetland hits double figures in day three of the island games
Adam Guest
Day three of the island games and it was another four medals for Team Shetland – with a special gold for Claire Wilson in the steeplechase.
It was the first time Wilson had competed in the 3,000-metre event, and the Shetlander, who now lives in Jersey, clocked an impressive time of 11.16.
Shetland are now up to 13 medals in the games.
Proud supporters were singing along to the Shetland anthem as Wilson was smiling on the podium.
Meanwhile, top runner Emma Leask won silver in the 400 metres with 57.67. The time was a new personal best for Leask and a new Shetland record.
She was “really chuffed” with the run.
“The race couldn’t have gone any better really. The girl in front who won it, Catherine Reid she is a different class.”
Leask was trying to stay as close as she could to the Isle of Man runner.
“I relaxed a bit up the back straight and then pushed on around the top bend and I could see the Ynys Mon girl, she was my main rival, and I could feel myself passing her around the bend.
“I knew in the home straight I had to hold on and cross the line.”
She said it was good to get some speed in her legs prior to the 800 metres, her main event where she will be defending her title.
“I’m kind of nervous but excited at the same time,” she said.
“I’m in good shape so I’m hoping I’m going to be able to run some good times and run a good race.”
The 800 metres heats take place today with the final on Friday.
Leask is also part of the 4×400 relay team competing today.
As well as winning her medal she was delighted to see Wilson take the gold.
“You can tell she’s just absolutely delighted to have pulled on a Shetland vest and represent her island again.
“Leading up to this past couple of days she has been so excited and she did Shetland proud.”
In the 4×100 metres the Shetland women also broke the Shetland record running 49.60.
And at the pool it was two medals in two days for Andrea Strachan.
She won silver in the 200 metres individual medley with 2.17, swimming a personal best.
On top of that Strachan got a new Shetland record in the 50 metres butterfly with 28.60.
She said of her medal win:“I’m really happy especially with the time.
“It was a personal best for me. I didn’t know how the race was going to go, I’ve not raced it for a while so I wanted to go in this morning and see what I could do.
“I was pretty happy with what I did [in the heats]” – giving her hope for a medal in the final swim.
Swimming a PB has given her confidence she can swim quickly, and Strachan is looking forward to the 100 metres breaststroke and 50 metres freestyle today
Tomorrow she swims the 100 metres medley.
Meanwhile it was a second medal for shooter John Magnus Williamson.
Under the scorching sun at the range he grabbed bronze in the individual Olympic skeet event.
“It’s good to get something,” he said.
“It was very difficult conditions; it was windy and dusty.”
He said he was up against a tough field with Marius F. Joensen of Faroe scoring 14 to take top spot. Laurenson scored 11.
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