Five-time Olympic champion, Elaine Thompson-Herah, ignited day one of athletics competition after clocking 10.99 in the heats of the women’s 100 meters at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
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Thompson-Herah, who is fresh off a podium finish after receiving the bronze medal in the event at the recently concluded Oregon 2022 World Athletics Championships, crossed the line ahead of Imani Lansiquot of England, who ran a season’s best time of 11.15, and Maximila Imani of Kenya, who rounded out the top three in 11.30 seconds.
Her compatriot, Natalliah Whyte, booked her spot in the next round after winning heat six in 11.31. She finished ahead of Naa Anang of Australia (11.37) and Jacent Nayamahunge of Uganda (11.53).
Meanwhile, Ramona Burchell secured an automatic spot in the semi-finals of the event after finishing second in heat 7 in 11.46. She crossed the line behind Julien Alfred of St. Lucia (11.24).
The semi-finals of the women’s 100 meters will take place tomorrow, August 3 at 1:35pm Jamaica time.
In the men’s equivalent of the event, 2014 Glasgow champion Kemar Bailey-Cole will lead the Jamaican men into the next round of the event. Bailey-Cole finished second in heat four in a time of 10.15 behind Nigeria’s Raymond Ekevwo, who won in 10.14 seconds.
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Meanwhile, upcoming star Conroy Jones eased across the line in the top spot in 10.28 in heat eight. He was followed by Adam Thomas of Scotland (10.30) and Eric Harrison Jr. of Trinidad and Tobago (10.37).
Nigel Ellis failed to advance to the next round of the event, however, after placing third in heat three in 10.41. He finished behind South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who won in 10.10, and Jake Doran of Australia, who secured the second-place spot in 10.39 seconds.
Bailey-Cole and Jones will grace the track in the semi-finals of the men’s 100 meters tomorrow, August 3 at 1:10pm Jamaica time.
Other events contested at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games:
Men’s 110-meter hurdles: Rasheed Broadbell clocked a season’s best time of 13.16 seconds to advance to the final of the event with the fastest qualifying time. Meanwhile, his compatriots Hansle Parchment (13.33), who took gold at the Tokyo Olympics in the event last year, and Orlando Bennett (13.40) have also punched their tickets to the next round of the event. All three men will contest the final of the 110 meters hurdles on Thursday, August 4 at 3:44pm Jamaica time.
Men’s 400-meter hurdles: Two-time national champion, Jaheel Hyde, who is the only representative for Jamaica in the event, qualified for the final with the fastest time of 49.60. He will be joined by the likes of Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands (49.78) and William Mbevi Mutunga of Kenya (49.99). The eight finalists of the men’s 400 meters hurdles will face the starter on Saturday, August 6 at 2:45pm Jamaica time.
Men’s long jump: Jamaica’s only competitor in the men’s long jump, Shawn-D Thompson, leaped into the final of the event after producing a best jump of 7.85 meters. He will contest the final on Thursday, August 4 at 1:42pm Jamaica time.
Men’s Discus Throw: National champion Traves Smikle (64.90) and Commonwealth Games debutant Roje Stona (58.35) have advanced to the next round of the event. Smikle and Stona will contest the final of the men’s discus on Thursday, August 4 at 2:35pm Jamaica time.
Women’s 800 meters: Natoya Goule-Toppin, who contested the final of the 800 meters at the Oregon World Championships, won heat two of the event in a time of 1:58.39. Laura Muir of Scotland followed suit as she crossed the line in 1:58.84 for second, while Alexandra Bell of England finished third in a season’s best time of 1:59.76.
Women’s shot put: 2019 Doha World Championships silver medalist, Danniel Thomas-Dodd, advanced to the final of the women’s shot put after qualifying with the furthest mark of both Group A and B, 18.42 meters. Thomas-Dodd will be joined by her fellow countrywoman, Lloydricia Cameron, who advanced as a result of a non-automatic qualification spot with a best throw of 16.61 meters. Both women will enter the throwing ring tomorrow, August 3 at 2:05pm Jamaica time.
