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Denny, Cleaver and Doyle Deliver - Day 1 Afternoon Session #CG2018

Published Sun 08 Apr 2018

Queenslander Matt Denny has won silver in the men’s hammer in an outstanding display of clutch throwing as he set a new personal best of 74.88m. The throw was also a new state record and consolidated his position as Australia’s fourth-best thrower ever.

The 21-year-old was looking down and out after two fouls but dug deep to move into 2nd place with his third throw of 73.82m before hitting his best effort in the fourth round.

The former world youth discus champion described the pivotal moment in the competition when preparing for his final three throws after that shaky start “It was weird, I was more nervous in my first two throws, I was even more nervous after the third… I walked back to my sports psychologist Jonah and he said to me ‘It’s just context, that’s all it is, the pressure is put on by external factors, it doesn’t matter, it’s still another throw’.

England's Nick Miller won with a new British and Commonwealth Games Record of 80.26m. Mark Dry (SCO) was third in a season’s best 73.12m

Denny won Australia’s first medal in the event since Stuart Rendell captured gold in Melbourne in 2006. He has improved by over 1.5m this season 2018, and said of his transformation ““I’m a completely different person to last year, I know that’s totally cliche, but I’m a new person, a new athlete”.

In his international debut, Victorian Jack Dalton equalled his personal best of 68.28m to place eighth. And it was a solid effort from Huw Peacock too with the Tasmanian finishing 11th with a best throw of 65.19m.

It was further success in the field for Australia in the women’s T38 Long Jump as NSW jumpers Erin Cleaver (silver) and Taylor Doyle (bronze) sent the home crowd into a frenzy with their silverware.

Cleaver lept 4.36m and Doyle 4.22m, as they joined Olivia Breen from Wales on the podium. Breen, the hot favourite, set a new Games record with 4.86m for the gold.

Quote of the day has to go to Cleaver whose reaction to the wild cheering and support was priceless "I was thinking 'oh crap!' because I've never had a crowd cheering for me."

Kailyn Joseph (NSW) was fifth, with a leap of 4.06m, rounding out a fantastic competition for the Australian para-jumps team.

In the final of the men’s 5000m Stewart McSweyn (TAS) ran an intelligent race, biding his time through early tactical laps, as the Ugandan and Kenyan athletes made a break for gold with four laps to run, McSweyn gritted his teeth and endured violent changes in pace, finishing fifth in 13:58.96, behind winner Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) (13:50.83), Mohammed Ahmed (CAN) (13:52.78), and Kenya’s Edward Zakayo (13:54.06).

McSweyn described the start line introduction as “special”, noting the chilling roar of the home crowd. The King Island native pushed his body to previously unknown extremes in pursuit of a medal.

“I thought with two laps to go I could see the guys battling for third not pulling away too much, I focused on myself and tried to run that last 800 metres as quick as I could, if I got a medal, great, otherwise I knew I’d given it my all” said the Tasmanian.
Fellow Australian’s Morgan McDonald (NSW) and David McNeill were seventh (14:11.37) and 11th (14:24.51) respectively after both battled nagging injuries in the lead-up to the Games.

Rohan Browning (NSW) placed third in his men’s 100m semi-final in 10.26 (-0.8) and was ranked ninth overall to miss progressing to the final by 5 hundredths of a second. The 20-year old sprinter has continued to built upon a breakout 2017, which saw him represent Australia at the World Championships as a 19-year old. Browning will race the 4 x 100m relay later in the athletics program.

The articulate sprinter was philosophical about his performance saying â€œIt’s a fraction of seconds that differentiate the semi-finalists from the finalists and the great from the good. I’m still in the nascent stage of my career. You always want to run against the best. You don't want to run against chumps.”

Trae Williams (QLD) was fourth in his men’s 100m semi-final in 10.28 (-0.3) and overall ranked 11th. A season which has seen Williams claim a national title and race to a personal best of 10.10, the fastest 100m time by an Australian since 2007, will give Australian sprint fans substantial entertainment in forthcoming seasons.

Damien Birkinhead (VIC) enjoyed a successful 25th birthday, requiring only one throw to progress through qualification in the Men’s Shot Put, topping his group with a throw of 20.47m.

International highlights from the Sunday afternoon session included Tom Walsh (NZ) breaking the Games Record in Men’s Shot Put qualification, taking one throw, the current World Champion launched out to 22.45m.

Olympic finalist Steve Solomon (NSW) looked like his old self as he cruised into the 400m semi-finals with a convincing heat win of 45.39. The Duke University student ran a strong top bend to hit the lead with 80 metres to run. Solomon, a finalist at the London Olympics has battled injuries in recent year but returned to form this season with an Australian indoor 400m record of 45.44 in the US in February.

Melissa Breen (ACT) placed fifth in her women’s 100m semi-final in 11.76 (-0.1) and did not progress to the final. Earlier, the Australian record-holder had progressed from the first round with 11.65 (2.1). Breen has won a personal battle with injury to take her place on the start line at the Games and will race in the 4 x 100m relay later in the week.

Check the GC2018 Website for full results and the latest schedule.

Pat Birgan and Sean Whipp for Athletics Austalia

Statistics and superlatives courtesy of David Tarbotton

Aussies in Action Monday 9 April Morning Session

The men’s decathlon gets underway tomorrow morning as Australia’s kings of the ten-eventer Cedric Dubler (QLD) and Kyle Cranston (NSW) first set their blocks for the 100m before taking on the long jump then the shot put. They will return for the evening session and complete day one with the high jump and 400,

Meanwhile, Brandon Starc (NSW) and Joel Baden (VIC) are set to soar in the men’s high jump qualifying.

Australian 400m trio Anneliese Rubie (NSW), Bendere Oboya (NSW) and Morgan Mitchell (VIC) go round in the heats of the one-lapper and Nick Hough (NSW) tackles the heats of the 110m hurdles.

Team co-captain Kurt Fearnley (NSW), starts his campaign in round one of the T54 1500m with Jake Lappin (VIC) and Samuel Rizzo (VIC).

Aussies in Action - Next Up

Monday 9 April - Morning  
Decathlon 100m Cedric Dubler (QLD), Kyle Cranston (NSW)
High Jump Qualification Round Brandon Starc (NSW), Joel Baden (VIC)
400m Round 1 Anneliese Rubie (NSW), Bendere Oboya (NSW), Morgan Mitchell (VIC)
Decathlon Long Jump Cedric Dubler (QLD), Kyle Cranston (NSW)
110m Hurdles Round 1 Nick Hough (NSW)
T54 1500m Round 1 Kurt Fearnley (NSW), Jake Lappin (VIC), Samuel Rizzo (VIC)
Decathlon Shot Put Cedric Dubler (QLD), Kyle Cranston (NSW)

Follow all the action of the XXI Commonwealth Games

The 2018 Commonwealth Games will be held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, from Wednesday 4 April to Sunday 15 April 2018.

Athletics action kicks off on Sunday 8 April and continues until Sunday 15 April.

Tickets 

You can still buy athletics tickets for Gold Coast Commonwealth Games including for finals sessions;

Don’t miss your chance to witness world-class competition live and cheer on the Aussie team.

TV and Digital

The Seven Network will broadcast content on all three of their TV channels - 7, 7TWO and 7Mate.

You can download the 7CommGames app from both the Google Play and Apple store or watch via the website version.

The app and website will have all events on TV and every medal event live, in full and available for free. 

Athletics will be hosted by a huge team of athletics specialist led by Bruce McAvaney and include Lord Sebastian Coe, Dave Culbert, Steve Hooker, Tamsyn Lewis. 

With Pat Welsh trackside and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor and Jane Flemming providing additional commentary.

How to listen on radio

ABC Local and Regional Stations â€“ Updates throughout the day with live continuous
coverage from 7.00 pm
The ABC Listen App â€“ on Google Play and Apple store featuring a dedicated Commonwealth Games channel
Grandstand Digital DAB+ â€“ broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
ABC Online â€“ ABC Grandstand will stream its Games coverage

Karen Tighe will host the broadcast with Quentin Hill covering Athletics along with Australia’s fastest man, Patrick Johnson providing expert commentary.