RUNNER Jo McGarry has given up on her bid to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next March.

McGarry has made several attempts to crack the 16 min 30 sec time barrier for the 5,000 metres and has come within five seconds.

But on Friday morning she said: ‘I’ve decided it’s just not going to happen.

It’s very disappointing but I’ve got to the point when I’ve been trying too hard and I perhaps need something else to aim for.

‘I’ll probably do the cross-country season and then decide what to do on the track next year.’ But, at 34, McGarry has not written off her chances of going to the next Commonwealths in Delhi.

‘I might just get another chance in four years’ time, perhaps over a longer distance,’ she said.

She came closest to the qualifying time last month when she clocked 16.35 in a BMC invitation race in England.

But it was a brave attempt to become the only female track runner ever to represent the Island at the Commonwealths.

And she is not the only Island athlete to have their ambition to compete in Australia thwarted by the clock.

NatWest Island Games gold medallist Peter Irvine wanted to go to Melbourne to compete in the 400m hurdles but missed out by 0.8 sec and has now run out of qualifying events.

Said the man who sets the qualifying standards for Jersey, athletics development officer Andrew Winnie: ‘It’s a great shame.

Jo came to me in Spring and asked if I’d coach her, but when standards are set you’ve got to stick to them.

I think the targets are fair – they are set so an athlete doesn’t embarrass themselves or the Island.

They certainly aren’t set with medals in mind – there’s no way we can get to that standard with Olympic and world class people there.

‘She certainly won’t be too old in four years’ time.

My target’s to get Jo and Peter ready for Delhi.’ He also revealed that another Jersey athlete, Claire Forbes, who is now 33, will be trying to qualify for the Delhi Games in the 1500m.

Off the track, high jumper Simon Phelan and discus thrower Lauren Thérin have both achieved the qualifying standards for Melbourne 2006.