Dads' Delight | O'Hanlon & Starc add to Australia's medal tally in Birmingham

It was an early Father’s Day at Alexander Stadium for two of Australia’s track and field stars as Evan O’Hanlon and Brandon Starc celebrated medal success surrounded by their loved ones.

Claiming back-to-back Commonwealth gold in the Men’s 100m T37/38 for athletes with neurological impairments, O’Hanlon dominated a field filled with the Commonwealth’s best to comfortably claim Australia’s 200th Commonwealth gold medal in the sport.

O’Hanlon stopped the clock at 11.23 (-0.3) for a new Games record, beating South Africa’s Charl du Toit by more than a quarter of a second (11.54).

The victory was extra sweet for the Czech-based sprinter, who had his wife and two children,  4-year-old Ursula and 2-year-old Alfred, cheering him on in the crowd.

“This win was special, mostly because I could do it in front of my daughter and my son, Ursula and Alfred and hopefully they’re old enough that they can remember it. They were probably a bit too young to remember my other medals, and in Tokyo they didn’t get to come over because of Covid, so to have them come over and watch me, that’s very special.”

Five-time Paralympic gold medallist O’Hanlon, who is a dual Australian representative in able-bodied bob-sleigh, has been impacted by both injury and tough Covid restrictions in Europe, making the win all the more rewarding.

“Covid is still tough where I am.  For example in winter, I can’t get into the indoor track in  the Czech Republic so I was training in minus 8 degrees and shoveling snow and ice off the track. It’s been difficult but also really rewarding because I’ve been doing it on my own, and I’m coached by Iryna Dvoskina by correspondence”

In the men’s high jump, Brandon Starc shook off early nerves and self-doubt to produce yet another magical performance - and be rewarded with a Commonwealth Games silver.

In what has been a challenging lead-in and a draining 12 months - both mentally and physically - Starc overcame a bruised heel that saw him miss the World Athletics Championships last month, a precaution he took to be able to safely jump in Birmingham.

During the warm-up Starc was visibly shaken, but his two first attempt clearances at 2.05m and 2.10m seemed to settle some of his uncertainty.

From there, Starc faulted once at 2.15m, twice at 2.19m, and once again at 2.22m. After surpassing that height, Starc successfully navigated what we all know he is capable of - a first attempt clearance at 2.25m.

That height would be his last clearance, and likewise for Trans-Tasman competitor Hamish Kerr, with the New Zealander winning gold on countback.

As foes - or more appropriately, as friends - the pair embraced and congratulated each other on a spirited event.

Although the result may not seem quite the usual standard for the former Diamond League winner and Olympic finalist, Starc knows himself what a truly great performance it was under the circumstances.

“That was tough, probably the toughest comp I’ve ever had,” Starc said afterwards.

“Throughout the comp… I was feeling every bit of that bruised heel. I was taking my shoe off trying to get some relief but in the end I just had to grit my teeth and jump through it. Yeah I don’t know what it was - whether it was family or just because I wanted it really bad, I just kind of jumped through it and somehow I got a medal.

The moment made extra special with Starc’s mum, wife and son, Oliver, in the stands cheering.

“He’s such a good baby, he did the whole lap of honour and was so excited. They’ve come all the way to Birmingham to support and watch me. It’s pretty special to do that. Oliver probably won’t remember it, but it was pretty special to have him here.”

In her first major international Games experience, heptathlete Taneille Crase excelled beyond her best to place fifth in the Commonwealth.

The 27-year-old from Jimboomba, who quit her full-time job in a quest to reach Birmingham, has starred on the world stage, producing five PBs across her seven events.

At the conclusion of the first day of competition, Crase took a win in the 100m hurdles in 13.42 (-0.4)(PB) before jumping 1.78m in the high jump, throwing 11.89m (PB) in the shot put and running 24.48 (PB) in the 200m.

On the second day, she jumped 6.23m (PB) in the long jump, threw 37.95m in the javelin and finished off with a big three second PB in the 800m, running 2:16.40. Her total score of 6026 moves her up one place to 7th on the all-time Australian list.

As is tradition, Crase, along with gold medal winner Katarina Johnson-Thompson of England and the rest of her heptathlon adversaries, collapsed to the ground following the 800m. Minutes later, clearly elated with her performance, she bounced over to speak with reporters.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” Crase said cheerily.

“To walk away with five new personal bests, an overall personal best, and finally crack the 6000 barrier, I couldn’t be happier right now.”

In reflection on how far she had come, Crase was full of praise for her coach, 1984 Los Angeles Olympic heptathlon champion Glynis Nunn-Cearns.
“She really pushed me to get back into it and fully commit to training.”

“It’s an absolute dream... Her knowledge and experience is priceless, but above everything else, she’s become a true friend.”

Not since Aaron Rouge-Serret in Delhi 2010 has Australia had a presence in the men’s 100m final, but that changed tonight as 24-year-old Sydney University student Rohan Browning qualified his way through in a hot semi-final.

Running 10.17 (-0.2), placing second in his semi, Browning lined up in lane 8 for the final later in the program, racing well enough to finish sixth in 10.20 (-0.9).

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala was crowned Commonwealth champion, running 10.02 in a hotly contested final where just 0.22 of a second separated first and seventh.

“A month ago there was no way I saw myself in this final,” Browning said afterward. 

“But once you’re here, you just want to be on that podium, that’s what it’s all about… I’m heading in the right direction.”

Fellow sprinter Jake Doran placed eighth in his semi final, running below his best in 10.40 (-1.2).

South Australia’s Izzi Batt-Doyle toiled admirably in gusty conditions for the 10,000m on the track.

With a hot pace applied early on, Batt-Doyle held with the leading group for as long as she could, before drifting back in the final kilometers, finishing in 8th place in 32:04.52.

In a stirring performance Eilish McColgan of Scotland took gold, outkicking Kenyan Irine Chepet Cheptai in 30:48.60.

In the highly-anticipated men's 800m, Australian champion Peter Bol looked a picture of comfort as he strolled through to the final, taking the win in his heat in 1:47.01.

The 29-year-old glided to the front with 100m to go and never looked back, easing up in the final stretch in a performance that puts his right up among the medal chances. While the run looked effortless, it was almost not to be. 

“Do you know what’s crazy? I rolled my ankle yesterday. A shout out to my medical team; yesterday I was limping and today I’m back running so I want to thank the medical team at Athletics Australia. In the morning, I was like, ‘damn, I’m ready to go.’” Bol said. 

“I think the race speaks for itself. It was comfortable, it was nice and what an unbelievable crowd. What an atmosphere.

“I always try and get a good start. Wherever that positions you - hopefully not the front and hopefully not too far back. It’s a strange race the 800m, it’s so unpredictable. You can have a race plan but it’s out the door before you race.

The Tokyo sensation will have plenty of time to visualise a race plan, the final set to be held in four day's time on Sunday evening.

“In the meantime, I’m going to support the Australian team. Get around all of the other sports as well and for me, I’ll probably have a session in between because it’s never happened before,” Bol said. 

In the earlier heat, Games debutant Charlie Hunter took the race on at the 400m mark, but faded late to finish fourth in 1:49.94. He finishes 14th overall and won't contest the final.

As the sun reached the highest point of the day, Steve Solomon took to the men’s 400m heats. The 29-year-old’s class and experience shone through, taking one of three auto-Q spots up for grabs, finishing second in 45.98.

Looking comfortable in the home straight, Solomon advances to Friday night’s semi, aiming to reach his second Commonwealth Games 400m final.

Solomon showed no signs of the injuries or illness that has affected him in recent times and if he can recapture his very best form, will be right amongst the contenders in the final. He was cautious in his confidence when speaking to the media after the race.

“Nothing’s a given at this level,” Solomon said.

“Even if on paper it should be comfortable, the nerves, the pressure, even just executing on the day [is tough]. Even Worlds showed me even if you are physically there, a result is not given, so I’m really happy with how that went for me today,” Solomon said.

“It means an awful lot to be at this Commonwealth Games and to have performed. I’m in the back end of my career now. I’m 29, so I think one of the things that keeps me going mentally is the occasion to perform. I love this. To get here, to live it and experience it, and if I experience another year like I have this year (with injury), I know why I do what I do.”

Two more Australian sprinters became Commonwealth Games semi finalists today, as beach sprinter-turned-track star Bree Masters ran a swift 11.36 (+1.1) to cross the line in sixth place, while former long jumper Naa Anang represented Australia for the first time as an individual sprinter, clocked 11.39 (0.0).

Anang found herself up close against the very best in her semi final, running in the lane next to eventual gold medallist, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah.

Browning, Doran, Anang and Masters are all expected to return at the end of the week to compete in Australia’s men’s and women’s 4x100m relay teams.

By Jake Stevens and Sascha Ryner for Commonwealth Games Australia
Posted: 4/8/2022