Australia’s Commonwealth Games gold rush has continued into day two as another 14 medals are up for grabs for the nation.
The best chances will be in the pool, where medals will be awarded in nine events with Australians during the night session (from 4am).
But the medal action began early with the running of the men’s and women’s marathons, the latter proving to be special for Australia.
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AUSSIE GOES FOR GOLD IN “ICONIC” STUNNER MARATHON
from Australia Jess Stenson won the women’s marathon with an incredible run, breaking away in the final 10km before claiming her maiden gold in the event with a time of 2:27.31.
Stenson was one of three Australians in the race along with Eloise Wellings and Sinead Diver.
Passing the 30km mark, the other two Australians, along with most of the field, dropped out, but Stenson held firm with frontrunners Helalia Johannes and Kenya’s Margaret Wangari Muriuki.
He then made his own move after two hours and 10 minutes of running to get out on his own at the front.
And he held on at the front to take the win, 29 seconds ahead of Muriuki and 1 minute and eight seconds ahead of Johannes.
Commentator Bruce McAvaney described Stenson’s celebrations with Wellings and Diver at the end as “iconic scenes”.
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Stenson won bronze in the marathon in 2014 and 2018 before becoming a mother for the first time in 2019. She then returned to the sport in 2020 and tried to qualify for the Tokyo Games, but was cruelly beaten for a bone stress injury.
Even Stenson’s Commonwealth Games build-up was hampered by Covid-19 just weeks after the event.
Former Olympian and commentator Dave Culbert said as Stenson approached the finish line: “This is going to be one of the great venues in Australian athletics.
“She watched the Tokyo Games, it inspired her to come back after her last-minute attempt to make the team.
“He had a stress fracture in his femur, another bony stress injury in his lower back.
“The resilience to keep coming back to get into this position after finishing third twice is extraordinary.”
Speaking after the race, Stenson said: “To all the mums out there, just dream big and thank you for all your support and thanks to the mums before me who have shown that this is possible.”
The AustralianJess Stenson has won the women’s marathon with an incredible race. Source: AFP
IN THE POOL
In the morning session, the Aussies swam strongly in the heats with several stars progressing.
The first was the men’s 200m freestyle, which was watched Elijah Winnington i Mack Horton progress with times of 1:46.87 and 1:47.37 respectively.
Then followed the women’s 50m freestyle heats, which included Emma McKeon — aiming to become Australia’s most successful Commonwealth Games athlete — and shayna jack.
Both crossed: McKeon swam in 24.52 and Jack in 24.31. Both won their heats, as did Meg Harris in the first race with a time of 24.57.
For Jack, it was his first late swim at the international switch after being banned for two years due to a positive drug test.
The morning session also featured the Olympic gold medal Kaylee McKeown win his 100 m backstroke in 59.58, while Zac Stubblety-Cooker won his 100m breaststroke heat.
In the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, Cody Simpson he hit the pool again, being chosen to swim after the first change. He was handed the lead, which he held throughout his leg, swimming in 1:34.53 before Australia won the heat.
With Australia favorites to win this relay, it means Simpson could leave Birmingham as a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
Subsequently, the evening session will include the men’s 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke finals, as well as the men’s 400m individual medley final, women’s 100m butterfly, and the 4x100m freestyle relays, among others.
Shayna Jack’s first Games are in a booklet. Source: News Corp Australia
SPARKIE RUNNER ‘NOTHING LESS THAN AMAZING’
In the men’s marathon, electric runner Liam Adams missed out on a bronze medal by just seven seconds after leading almost halfway through the race.
Adams set the pace for about the first 20 kilometers and stayed in contention for the medals, but was eventually eliminated.
However, former Olympian Tamsyn Manou said Adams was: “Nothing short of amazing … just an incredible effort that he put in today … it was something special.”
The race was won by Victor Kiplangat, the first Ugandan to win marathon gold at the Commonwealth Games, in 2:10.54, 2 minutes 28 seconds ahead of Adams. Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu was second, 1 minute 34 seconds behind Kiplangat, and Kenya’s Michael Githae was third.
Liam Adams missed out on a bronze medal by just seven seconds after leading almost halfway through the race.Source: AFP
PARA GUN DOMINATES THE MARATHON
from Australia Madison de Rozario took out the T53/54 women’s marathon in style, dominating the field to win in a Commonwealth Games record time of 1:56:00.
The 28-year-old also won the same event four years ago on the Gold Coast, along with the 1,500m, which she will also go out to defend later this week.
He finished nearly four minutes ahead of second-placed Eden Rainbow-Cooper of England.
No bronze was awarded with only four competitors in the race.
Australia’s Christie Dawes finished fourth, but in a season’s best of 2:07:02.
The Australian Madison de Rozariotook the T53/54 women’s marathon in style. Source: AFP
OTHER ACTIONS
from Australia women’s rugby 7s The team could not add to the joy of the morning session though, losing their group stage match against Fiji 12-19. Australia were trailing 19-0 before scoring two final consolation tries.
Also the second day is the start of hockey with the Hockeyroos beat Kenya 5-0 at half time.
Later, Australia’s Olympic silver medalists Taliqua Clancy i Mariafe Artacho del Solar start their beach volleyball campaign (Sunday at 6 am).
In total, Australian women could win up to nine gold medals in the pool on Day 2, along with four in track and para-track cycling (from 7pm), and the women’s artistic gymnastics team final (at from 6 p.m.).
Maeve Plouffe qualified for the women’s 3,000m individual pursuit final and will face New Zealand favorite Bryony Botha at 1.37am.
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FULL DAY 2 AUSSIE SCHEDULE (all times AEST)
* — Medal events
Marathon*, 4:00 p.m
Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls, 5:30 p.m
Badminton, 6 p.m
Artistic Gymnastics*, 18.00h
Hockey, 6:00 p.m
Rugby Sevens, 6 p.m
Weightlifting, 6:00 p.m
Table tennis and Para table tennis, 6.30 p.m
Cycling on track and paratrack*, 19.00 h
Swimming and Paraswimming*, 7.30 p.m
Cricket T20, 8pm
Boxing, 9 p.m
Netball, 9 p.m
Squash, 9 p.m
Badminton, 11.00 p.m
Hockey, 11 p.m
Beach volleyball, 11.30 p.m
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