9th April 2018

ATHLETICS WORLD CUP NATIONS DOMINATE THE COMMONWEALTH PODIUM IN SPRINTS

As the countdown to the inaugural Athletics World Cup continues, a number of the eight nations set to compete in London come 14-15 July impressed as track and field action continues to unfold at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

The conclusion of the men’s and women’s 100m saw six medals were available across the two finals earlier today, and it was South Africa and Jamaica, two of the Athletics World Cup nations, who left their stamp on proceedings by taking the spread of the medals.

First up of the sprint finals, the women’s decider saw Jamaica, a nation with three athletes present in the final, take silver and bronze courtesy of Christiania Williams and Gayon Evans, results which further enhanced the nation’s reputation as a track and field powerhouse as well as showcasing the depth they have even without Elaine Thompson competing in the discipline. Narrowly missing out on bronze and in doing so repeating her finishing position from Glasgow 2014, Great Britain & Northern Ireland’s Asha Philip clocked 11.28 for Team England.

Shortly afterwards, the men’s 100m saw South Africa’s Akani Simbine snatch a historic gold for the nation, the Olympic and world finalist streaking clear of pre-race favourite Yohan Blake and the rest of the field to dip for the line in 10.03 to cue wild celebrations. Behind Simbine came compatriot Henricho Bruintjies, a time of 10.17 seeing him claim historic to complete a South Africa 1-2, with Blake, the second fastest man in the history of the 100m, narrowly clinching bronze ahead of Nigerian Seye Ogunlewe. Unfortunately for Team England, 9.97m 100m man Adam Gemili withdrew from the final due to injury, though the 24-year-old is hoping to be back in action for this summer.

Away from the sprints, Jamaica’s O’Dayne Richards missed out on a bronze medal by 11cm in the Shot Put, his second round best of 20.80 leaving him 11cm down on a medal in a series of throws hampered by fouls, with compatriot Ashinia Miller taking seventh place (19.68m) behind sixth placer Orazio Cremona of South Africa (20.51m).

See the best from Great Britain & Northern Ireland, USA, Germany and more take on recently crowned Jamaican and South African Commonwealth Games medallists this summer at the inaugural Athletics World Cup.

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