JERSEY’S Steve Mackay pulled off an unbelievable feat in the Stratford Speed GP meet, clocking two personal bests on his way to securing Jersey’s 100m record of 10.48 seconds.
“I knew it was a fast race, I completely overlooked that it was the Island record and, as soon as I saw the time, I called my coach,” said Mackay.
“To win that race, up against some of the UK’s fastest men, was such an amazing feeling. Everything we worked on came together and produced something amazing.”
The Caesarean speedster is no stranger to success on the track, winning the 100m race with a blistering time of 10.73 seconds at the WACT Bronze EA – IFAM Outdoor in Brussels just over a month ago.
Taking place on the London Marathon Community Track, holding a reputation as one of the country’s fastest tracks, everything was set to deliver a speedy spectacle.
Mackay didn’t hesitate to put on a show in Stratford, clocking the astounding Island record time in his first race, which was the Men’s 100m round one, heat seven.
After executing a brilliant start, Mackay blazed down the inside lane, remaining in the lead to win and clock the record time.
Even though he led from the beginning, that wasn’t to say it wasn’t a close race, as Mackay beat the runner-up by a narrow 0.09 seconds.
After such a brilliant start, Mackay looked to build on it going into round two. That was going to be easier said than done, however, facing a stacked line-up.
For all the hope, this time around it wasn’t meant to be, as Mackay placed fourth with a time of 10.66 seconds. Racing was still ridiculously tight though, as only 0.05 seconds separated the Islander from the race winner, Bright Otiora.
Despite not getting another win, there was still plenty to celebrate, as he defeated Team GB’s 4x400m athlete Alex Haydock-Wilson, who won a bronze medal in last year’s Paris Olympics.
Facing such elite competition did not worry Mackay: “I never look at who’s next to me. I’m always looking forward, so seeing the likes of Alex Haydock-Wilson never fazed me at all.”
Another milestone was passed by the Jerseyman in the 200m contest, as he set a new personal best of 21.46 seconds to place second in his heat, just 0.13 seconds short of the leading Kaylan Taylor.
Following such a successful outing, Mackay has huge aspirations for his athletics career, saying: “My goal is to run at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, for which I need a time of 10.40 seconds.
“I’ve never been this prepared in my life, and I’m really hoping for something special in Orkney. It won’t be easy though, as everyone in those finals will be aiming for gold.”
Mackay wasn’t Jersey’s only representative at the meet, as Olivia Allbut and Tyler Johnson competed in the 400m, clocking times of 62.43s and 51.74s respectively.
With such a solid outing, in a big national competition, everything seems to be warming up perfectly for Orkney’s Island Games.