Photo by Bobby Gavin
So good she won it twice.
Melanie Woods took gold in the controversial T54 1500m rerun and served out her own justice on the Scotstoun track.
The Scot stayed totally focused and even came up with a new Commonwealth Games Record of 3:32.20 – with her 3:33 from Wednesday thus eclipsed.
Mauritius athlete Noemi Alphonse was in close pursuit in Mel’s slipstream for the vast majority the race but by the time they turned into the home straight the Scot edged ahead enough to surge home for victory.
The Jury of Appeal’s rerun decsion did change the medal focus however as England’s Ellis Kottas finished fourth today after second (promtoed from third) on Wednesday.
Joanna Robertson was ranked fifth on PBs on the start list and that is where the Aberdeen AAC athlete finished. Joanna had been involved in the track crash and bravely got back in her chair on that occasion.
‘It has been emotionally up and down and back and forth since the first race,’ said Melanie.
‘I am excited and happy now with winning the rerun to be able to say ‘I’m the Commonwealth Games champion’.
‘I’m in the final of the 400m again tomorrow and of course with the rerun I have had more than I bargained for this week (in terms of races). But I will go again and it would be fantastic if I can make it double gold.’
Warm congratulations to Melanie, her family, coach Rodger Harkins and all her support team.
Six athletes had lined up for the rerun less than 48 hours after the original race. A DQ decision from the first race still stood.
Some 90 minutes later, Melanie and Joanna both qualified for the T54 400m final tomorrow. Mel won her heat and Joanna took one of the non-automatic slots.
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Team Scotland posted a Scottish Best of 3:19.07 in the Mixed 4x400m Relay and took an automatic qualification place in the heat to progress to Saturday’s final. Scotland were third behind England and Kenya.
The quartet featured Brodie Young, Rebecca Grieve, Bradley Francis and Georgina Adam.
Brodie had raced earlier in the week in the Men’s 400m but for the other three athletes this was a special moment as they featured in the Commonwealth Games for the first time.
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