Spartan’s runner smashes three-decade old island record

Tuesday 20 February 2024

A 25-year-old runner has broken the 5km Jersey record – which was set before he was born – by around seven seconds.

Jersey Spartan’s Sam Maher smashed the 31-year-old island record during the Battersea Park 5km over the weekend.

He completed the 5,000 metre course in just 14mins 33.92secs – also marking a new Channel Island 5km ‘road’ record.

Although Maher is traditionally a 1500m runner, he explained he had his eyes on the Battersea Park 5km race.

“I’ve known about the time for a long while and have always eyed it up," he said.

“I wasn’t sure that I would be able to break it in this race, but I knew it was there and it was something that kept me motivated.”

Pictured: Sam Maher running in the Mens 800m semi finals at the 2019 Island Games in Gibraltar. (Rob Currie)

However, Maher is still focussed on his "main discipline" of 1500m.

His 2023 endeavours earned him three bronze medals from the Guernsey Games, in the 1500m, 5000m and the 4x400m men’s relay.

He continued: “1500 metres is my main discipline. That’s what I competed at in the Island Games last July.

"I think there will be a natural progression to longer distances as I get older, but while I still have the speed there, I certainly don’t want to give up on the shorter stuff yet.

“Keeping hold of that speed is really beneficial even in the longer races where you need sprint finishes to secure a top finish.”

Maher's achievement at Battersea Park earned him a 29th place finish from the 270 who competed.