A historic night of Australian athletics in Glasgow has seen Ky Robinson and Eleanor Patterson crowned Commonwealth champions, as Lachlan Kennedy and Torrie Lewis defied the pouring rain to blaze to new 100m national records and land on the podium.
A tactical masterclass saw Robinson race patiently in the men’s 10,000m field before pushing the pace in the final 10 laps, picking apart the star-studded lineup before a brave last lap saw him fend off his rivals in 27:48.93.
Following in the footsteps of Rose Davies who won the women’s 10,000m on the opening night of competition at Scotstoun Stadium, Robinson was elated with the feat as he prepares to double back in the 5000m on Saturday.
“The first 15 laps were pretty boring, just standard pace and not much happening,” Robinson said.
“I decided I would be the guy who picked it up slowly and then in the last kilometre I really go for it and leave nothing left.”
“As a kid you look up to the Commonwealth Games and to come away with the win means a lot. That’s a young boy’s dream that’s come true there.”
Robinson defeated Gulveer Singh (IND, 27:49.78) and David Mullarkey (IOM, 27:50.28) en route to the title.
High jumper Eleanor Patterson made a fairytale return to Glasgow where she won the Commonwealth title as an 18-year-old in 2014, winning once again tonight when toppling teammate and longtime rival Nicola Olyslagers as Australia clinched gold and silver.
A clutch third-attempt clearance at the winning height of 1.96m saw Patterson reign supreme in an emotional return to Glasgow, as Olyslagers finished second at 1.93m.
“It’s been such a full circle experience and I was definitely very nervous coming into this,” Patterson said.
“It’s been a wild 12 years, but I feel very lucky to be in the position that I am today.”
“Nicola is a phenomenal athlete and a phenomenal human who has definitely got the better of me over the last few years.”
Australia’s fastest man Lachlan Kennedy lived up to the hype at his Commonwealth Games debut, flying to the silver medal and a new national record of 9.85 (+1.3) in wet and wild conditions, with only Emmanuel Eseme (CMR) able to better him with a new Games Record of 9.84-seconds.
The medal is Australia’s first men’s in sprinting (100m / 200m) at the Commonwealth Games in 64-years, as Edward Nketia also impressed in the final in 10.06-seconds – the first time since 1982 two Australian men have featured in the final.
“I came here wanting to win, but second place with a big PB is a good consolation prize,” Kennedy said.
“To be able to come out here in those conditions, against a field like that and to be able to run a time like that, it just goes to show how much faith I have in my team.”
“I’m very proud for my country to be able to get a medal at the Commonwealth Games. I’m all about rising to the occasion.”
Torrie Lewis set back-to-back Australian records when blazing to bronze in the Women’s 100m, with her run of 10.99 (+1.0) in the final bettering her 11.00 (+1.6) performance in the semi-finals – becoming the first Australian woman in history to shatter 11-seconds.
The 21-year-old was edged out by Trans-Tasman rival Zoe Hobbs (NZL) who won gold in 10.93-seconds, and Amy Hunt (ENG) who secured silver in 10.98-seconds.
“Dream situation, genuinely!” Lewis said.
“I was hoping I got a medal but I didn’t want to celebrate too early in case I got fourth or something else, but as soon as I saw my name on the screen I was super happy – and even more happy with the 10.99!”
Adding to Australia’s medal frenzy was hammer thrower Lara Roberts who launched to 68.05m and bronze, battling through challenging conditions as rain accumulated in the throwing circle. Roberts produced the effort in the second round to pour the pressure on her rivals, as fellow Australian Stephanie Ratcliffe claimed seventh place with 67.01m.
Rohan Browning was valiant in the 100m semi-finals when clocking 10.14 (+0.7) for his fastest time of the year, while Ebony Lane (11.52) and Georgia Harris (11.80) also bowed out in the second round.
After four events in the women’s heptathlon, Australian champion Mia Scerri leads the nation’s charge for a medal in third place, bouncing back in the evening session to win the shot put (13.87m) and finish the opening day on 3560 points. Teammate Tori West is following closely in fifth place on 3517 points.
The only athlete on the Para Athletics program on day two, Lindsey Hendy performed strongly at his international debut when leaping to 5.48m (-0.3) for seventh place in the men’s long jump T20.
Earlier in the day, Australia’s 800m men made light work of the heats, all progressing to Thursday’s semi-finals as Peter Bol won his heat in 1:45.86, while Peyton Craig (1:47.17) and Luke Boyes (1:47.37) built into their Glasgow campaigns nicely.
Reece Holder had no troubles in the heats of the men’s 400m, advancing as the second fastest qualifying in 45.86-seconds in his first race since the World Athletics Relays in early May.
The Athletics and Para Athletics will continue tomorrow at Scotstoun Stadium, with the first event scheduled for 10:05am local time.