Chris McAlister

League regular Chris McAlister hoping to break 49-second barrier

Last year’s British No.1 400m hurdler Chris McAlister is keen to build on his National Athletics League season-opener in his pursuit of a World Athletics Championships qualifier.

In Cardiff last Saturday, Thames Valley Harrier clocked a winning 50.41 in his first 400m hurdles race of the season. He already has the qualifying standards for the European Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games.

After his run in Cardiff, he said he believed he could make the adjustments necessary to improve his PB from the 49.16 he achieved in 2021 toward the 48.90 required for the Worlds.

“I got a couple of standards for Euros and Commies last year so I just want to get in form and be competitive at all the championships this season,” he said. “It’s a big season.”

The man who produced two individual wins for TVH in 2021 and ended Saturday’s campaign by helping the 4x400m team to victory added: “My speed’s really good at the moment on the flat, I think that’s really going well. What I really want to improve is just tightening up that hurdling a bit as we get into the summer and do the sessions. It’ll come through. I really want to crack that 48 this year. That’s my main goal.”