Athletics at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast gets underway with both the men and women’s 100-metre early rounds, as well as the men’s 5000-metre final headlining the day. Join The Roar for live coverage in our blog from 2pm (AEST).
The Gold Coast will get their first look at the world’s fastest active sprinter on Sunday, with Yohann Blake in the second last heat for the men’s 100-metre sprint.
Blake has a stunning personal best time of 9.69, while he has already broken the ten-second barrier this season, running 9.90.
He is a raging favourite to take out the sprint when it gets to the medal race later on, but for now, he will aim to qualify for the semi-finals at the end of Day 1 competition in the middle of the track.
Australian trio Rohan Browning, Trae Williams and Josh Clarke will also be at the back end of the heats, with the three holding personal best times of 10.19, 10.10 and 10.15 respectively.
It’s hard to see anyone challenging Blake in the sprint though, with the Jamaican likely to cruise through not having to take on long time rival Usain Bolt.
The women’s version of the same event has been blown wide open by the decision from Nigerian Commonwealth Games record holder and defending champion Blessing Okagbare not to compete.
In her absence, Jamaican’s Natasha Robinson and Christina Williams, as well as Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago become the favourites. The three are the only three out of the 48-runner field to have cracked 11 seconds, with Ahye the only one to do so this year.
The first medal of the athletics will be decided in the men’s hammer throw, with Englishman Nick Miller and Scotish duo Chris Bennett and Mark Dry shaping as the favourites. Matthew Denny of Australia is also likely to finish up the top end of the field.
The other medal to be decided will be in the men’s 5000-metre final, which will see a 15-runner field. The only man to break the 13-minute mark in the field is Ugandan Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei, and it’s hard to see him being beaten, with that race set to get underway at 4:40pm (AEST).
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the first day of athletics action on the Gold Coast from 2pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Gerard Rawlins Snr.
Guest
Michelle-Lee Ahye will win the Women 100 quite easily. This race is tailor-made for her and she will be hard to peg back.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Men's 100-metre final qualifiers Yohan Blake (Jamaica) - 10.06 Kemar Hyman (Cayman Islands) - 10.10 Adam Gemili (England) - 10.11 Anaki Simbine (South Africa) - 10.12 Jason Rogers (Saint Kitts and Nevis) - 10.21 Seye Ogunlewe (Nigeria) - 10.20 Enoch Olaouluwa Adegoke (Nigeria) - 10.24 Henricho Brunintjies (South Africa) - 10.26
Scott Pryde
Expert
Men's 100-metre semi-final 3 results 1. Kemar Hyman (Cayman Islands) - 10.10 2. Akani Simbine (South Africa) - 10.12 3. Seye Ogunlewe (Nigeria) - 10.20 4. Harry Aikines Aryeetey (England) - 10.26 5. Keston Bledman (Trinidad and Tobago) - 10.30 6. Sibusiso Matsenjwa (Swaziland) - 10.37 7. Nigel Ellis (Jamaica) - 10.38 8. Warren Fraser (Bahamas) - 10.44
Scott Pryde
Expert
Men's 100-metre semi-final 2 results 1. Enoch Olaoluwa Adegoke (Nigeria) - 10.24 2. Henricho Brunintjies (South Africa) - 10.26 3. Rohan Browning (Australia) - 10.26 4. Oshane Bailey (Jamaica) - 10.32 5. Mark Otieno Odhiambo (Kenya) - 10.37 6. Cejhae Greene (Antigua and Barbuda) - 10.39 7. Emanuel Archibald (Guyana) - 10.46 DNF. Mosito Lehata (Lesotho)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Men's 100-metre semi-final 1 results 1. Yohan Blake (Jamaica) -10.06 2. Adam Gemili (England) - 10.11 3. Jason Rogers (Saint Kitts and Nevis) - 10.21 4. Trae Williams (Australia) - 10.28 5. Gavin Smellie (Canada) - 10.32 6. Ogho Oghene Egwero (Nigeria) - 10.42 7. Ramon Gittens (Barbados) - 10.44 8. Emmanuel Callender (Trinidad and Tobago) - 10.54
Scott Pryde
Expert
Women's 100-metre final qualifiers Asha Phillip (England) - 11.21 Christina Williams (Jamaica) - 11.22 Michaelle-Lee Ahye (Trinidad and Tobago) - 11.25 Natasha Morrison (Jamaica) - 11.27 Khalifa St.Fort (Trinidad and Tobago) - 11.35 Reyare Thomas (Trinidad and Tobago) - 11.36 Gayon Evans (Jamaica) - 11.37 Haultie Hor (Ghana) - 11.46
Scott Pryde
Expert
Women's 100-metre semi-final 3 results 1. Christina Williams (Jamaica) - 11.22 2 Reyare Thomas (Trinidad and Tobago) - 11.36 3. Halutie Hor (Ghana) - 11.46 4. Joy Udo-Gabriel (Nigeria) - 11.53 5. Corinne Humphreys (England) - 11.66 6. Ramona Papaioannou (Cyprus) - 11.67 7. Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli (Malaysia) - 11.84 8. Scovia Ayikoru (Uganda)
Scott Pryde
Expert
I'll post the results of the final four races, as well as the qualifiers for tomorrow night's 100-metre finals. Otherwise, that wraps up The Roar's live coverage of the first athletics session at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Hoppefully you enjoyed it. Join Adelaide Docker from 10am (AEST) tomorrow for Day 5 heats. I'll be back at in about half an hour for coverage of the Australian Opals and Canada in the women's basketball. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Official results hard to come by at the moment, but that does wrap up the athletics programme for the day. Results will be here as soon as I have them.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Men's 100-metre semi-final 3 Looks to be a great start for Ogunlewe in Lane 4 here, while Simbine falls away. Hyman comes through wonderfully and stops the clock at 10:10 with Simbine finishing in 10.12, finishing wonderfully in second spot. Third and fourth also quick and that's going to knock Browning out of the 100-metre final tomorrow night. Ogunlewe looks to be the man who will take the fastest loser spot out of that race.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Men's 100-metre semi-final 3 startlist 2. Sibusiso Matsenjwa (Swaziland) 3. Keston Bledman (Trinidad and Tobago) 4. Seye Ogunlewe (Nigeria) 5. Kemar Hyman (Cayman Islands) 6. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (England) 7. Akani Simbine (South Africa) 8. Nigel Ellis (Jamaica) 9. Warre Fisher (Bahamas)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Men's 100-metre semi-final 2 Good start from Browning and Adegoke who comes through and takes the win in 10.24. It was a slower heat than the first, but it's a photo for first. Browne and Green were there, among others. Looks like Brunintjies got second ahead of Browning, who both had 10.26! Williams posted 10.28, so Browning is looking in a good spot as a fastest loser.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Results from those last couple of races, as well as qualifiers for tomorrow night's women's final will be with you as soon as I have them.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Men's 100-metre semi-final 2 startlist 2. Emanuel Achibald (Guyana) 3. Rohan Browning (Australia) 4. Enoch Olaoluwa Adegoke (Nigeria) 5. Cejhae Greene (Antigua and Barbuda) 6. Henricho Brunintjies (South Africa) 7. Oshane Bailey (Jamaica) 8. Mark Otieno Odhiambo (Kenya) 9. Mosito Lehata (Lesotho)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Callendar took third there. He will have to wait and see about qualification.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Men's 100-metre semi-final 1 Away! It looks like Williams has started out of a cannon again, but he is overtaken pretty quickly by Blake and Gemili. Blake finishes in 10.06 ahead of the Englishman with Williams fading to take fourth.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Same rules for the men. Fastest 2 from each heat.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Men's 100-metre semi-final 1 startlist 2. Emmanuel Callender (Trinidad and Tobago) 3. Jason Rogers (Saint Kitts and Nevis) 4. Gavin Smellie (Canada) 5. Adam Gemili (England) 6. Trae Williams (Australia) 7. Yohan Blake (Jamaica) 8. Ramon Gittens (Barbados) 9. Ogho-Oghene Egwero (Nigeria)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Just waiting for the results to roll through from that third semi-final. Moving onto the mens in the meantime.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Women's 100-metre semi-final 3 Away! It looks like Williams got a very good start this time and she will win it pretty easily in 11.22. Hor got away to a good start, but faded with Thomas flying home to take second place on the outside.