The David Griffiths Aland blog

Chris Quine (right) set a Manx Record of 1.53.34  for a Bronze medal in the 800 metres last time the Island Games were held in Aland in 1991.  Gianni Epifani (left) was 5th 1.54.49.  The photo was taken by Gianni's mum just after the race.

Chris (pictured below during the Northern League meeting in 2002 at the NSC where he now works as Sports Performance Co-ordinator for the Isle of Man Sports Institute), won an individual medal at every Island Games between 1985 and 1999. His Manx record stood until Keiron Murray ran 1.53.00 to win the Island Games in the Isle of Man (finishing a few yards from where Chris is standing in the photo) in 2001, but it was Chris's only 800 medal.   He tells the story of the race below.

Q:  How much can you remember about the 800 metres in 1991?

A:  There had been some very fast times in the heats and I only qualified as a fastest loser running about 1.56!  I had a tip-off that the final would be really fast as Mike Guegan from Jersey – a 1.47 man - was going to take it out.

Q:  How nervous were you?

A:  Extremely.  I knew it would be a really hard race and was going to be in severe pain!

Q:  Was the pace hot from the start?

A:  Yes. The leaders went off really hard and I just hung on at the back of the field.  Approaching the bell the noise from the crowd was really loud and I looked up at the clock which said forty something seconds (!) – the leaders actually passed in 52 and I went through in 54 (my PB for 400m was only 53!).

Q:  So how did you move through to take a medal and when did you pass Gianni?

A:  At 500m I passed someone and by 600m was starting to make some progress through the field.  At about 130m to go I went past the Aland runner and then Gianni who let out a massive groan!  I ran as hard as I could down the straight and thought I would catch second but about 30m from the line the lactic acid kicked in and the legs turned to jelly.

Q:  Who won and how close were you?

A:  Mike Guegan in 1.51.34.  I was exactly two seconds behind him.

Q:  How did you feel?

A:  Rather than fatigue I remember feeling completely elated at winning a medal and setting a record as it was all very unexpected given that my training had been geared to 5000m.

Q:  In the film of the race you appeared to be speeding up but that was not so was it?

A:  In fact I just decelerating at a slower rate than the others – my splits were 54/59 whereas Gianni was 52/62.

Q:  Did Gianni share your joy?

A:  I think that despite running a PB Gianni was a bit disappointed but he made up for it later on in the week in the 1500m when he gave Guegan the fright of his life in the 1500 metres to take the silver medal.

Q:  Was your recording breaking 800 metres beneficial to your 5000 metres 2 days later?

Q:  Probably not.  Although I won a bronze in the 5000 metres my legs felt tired and I think the foray into the 800 metres had taken its toll.