Galpin targets semi-final return at Glasgow 2026

Abi Galpin raises her arms in celebrationGetty Images

Abi Galpin is the first Guernsey woman to run under 55 seconds for 400m

Brent PilnickBBC SportandOlivia FraserBBC Guernsey

Guernsey's fastest women is hoping she can return to the 200m semi-finals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Abi Galpin progressed through the heats in the 200m four years ago in Birmingham.

The 25-year-old is aiming to repeat the feat as one of two of the island's track and field athletes competing in Glasgow.

"I'm hoping that I can try and make the semi-final again in Glasgow like I did in Birmingham," she told BBC Radio Guernsey.

"Hopefully the level of competition will be high, and I'm ready for that, but hopefully I can still scrape into that semi-final."

Galpin holds the Guernsey records for every distance up to 400m, as well as the long jump, in which she will also be competing in Glasgow.

She won gold in the 200m at the 2023 Island Games and bronze in the 100m in Orkney last summer.

She suffered a hip injury in April but is back to full fitness and hopeful she can impress in Glasgow.

"It has been stressful having an injury, and it's something no athlete ever wants, especially in the build-up to such an important games and event," she said.

"But I've had a really good support team around me and that makes it so much easier sharing that burden, sharing that stress, and then also just helping me get on track so much faster than you would be able to by yourself.

"So I'm really grateful to have that team and now feel that I'm ready to go."

Galpin added: "It's always such an honour to represent Guernsey at the Commonwealth Games because it is the highest level that you can represent Guernsey.

"I think obviously in 2022 for me for Birmingham that was huge, I worked so hard to get to that level.

"I had to run a PB that year to make sure that I got in, and so that was really special.

"Four years later I've had probably a rockier road than I would have liked to have had in the last four years.

"So to come back and make sure that I made that team again is rewarding because it's been probably not as easy as I would have imagined and so it's special to be able to be back on that stage."