Francis: McPherson in medal form

Having clocked a fast 51.07 seconds in a meet last week, Stephenie Ann McPherson is favoured to defend her title in the women's 400m at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth in Australia as she bows into action tonight in the preliminary round at 7:30 Jamaica time.

McPherson ran in a warm-up meet in Brisbane, Australia, and her coach, Paul Francis, believes that this is an indication that she will win a medal.

"Her time indicates that she should be a medal contender, but this is sport, and sport is interesting and entertaining to the world because it has uncertainties," Francis told The Sunday Gleaner.

"Although she has managed to make the final in the event at the last three global championships, McPherson has been plagued with injuries since she won gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games," Francis said.

"As we are all aware, in the sport of track and field, not all the things that we see are explained unless we understand what is happening behind the scenes. McPherson has been plagued with some injuries over the last couple of years, so her form may have seemed somewhat different from the higher standard people have become accustomed to, but she still has represented very well," Francis said.

Schoolboy De'Jour Russell is also expected to take the track in the preliminaries of the 110m hurdles tonight at 8:30. Russell, who is a fifth-former at Calabar High, was selected to his first senior team after his outstanding display at the National Senior Championship last year, where he ran a personal best of 13.32 seconds.

Olympic bronze medallist Hansle Parchment and Ronald Levy are the likely candidates to join him.

CWG SCHEDULE

- 3:12 a.m.: Cycling - Oshane Williams

- 5 a.m.: Basketball - Jamaica vs Malaysia

- 7:30 p.m.: Women's 400m

- 8:30 p.m.: Men's 110m hurdles