Jamaican sprinters slowed in Scotland
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From left: Zoe Hobbs of New Zealand, Amy Hunt of England, and Jonielle Smith of Jamaica compete in a women’s 100 metres semi-final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday.
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From left: Edward Nketia of Australia, Ackeem Blake of Jamaica, Jerome Blake of Canada, Adekalu Nicholas Fakorede of Nigeria, Gift Leotlela of South Africa, Mojela Koneshe of Lesotho, and Kuron Griffith of Barbados, compete in a men’s 100-metre semi-final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday.
Despite entering the 100 metres with high expectations, Jamaica endured a disappointing evening on the track, failing to secure a medal in either the men’s or women’s final on day two of the athletics programme at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
It was a rare sight at the Commonwealth Games for the 100m podium to be without a Jamaican athlete, but that was the reality yesterday as both Ackeem Blake and Rohan Watson failed to advance to the men’s final.
In semifinal one, Watson’s time of 10.12 seconds saw him placing sixth and far outside of a qualifying spot.
Despite a close run, Blake’s time of 10.06 was only good enough to leave him third in semifinal three, just outside the non-automatic qualifying standard of 10.05.
In their absence, Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme took the gold medal in a Commonwealth Games and national record 9.83.
He narrowly edged Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy, who also ran a national record, 9.85.
Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi took the bronze medal in 9.90.
In the women’s 100m, Jodean Williams and Jonielle Smith advanced to the final, with only the former facing the starter.
Williams ended fifth in the final with a time of 11.09 while New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs took the gold medal in a national record 10.93.
England’s Amy Hunt was second in 10.98, while Australia’s Torrie Lewis set a national record of 10.99 for the bronze medal.
Jamaica’s Lamara Distin narrowly missed out on a medal in the women’s high jump, recording a day’s best height of 1.87 metres.
Eleanor Patterson of Australia claimed the gold medal in a Commonwealth Games record of 1.96, while her teammate Nicola Olyslagers took the silver in 1.93.
Nigeria’s Temitope Adeshina rounded off the podium with the bronze medal when she cleared 1.90.
COMFORTABLE QUALIFYING
In the women’s 400m, Jamaica were comfortable in qualifying as Leah Anderson and Shana-Kaye Anderson booked their semifinal spots.
Leah advanced from heat two when she finished third in a time of 52.74, while Shana-Kaye finished second in heat three in 52.71.
In the men’s equivalent, Jamaica were again comfortable with all three athletes moving on to the semifinals.
The first of the trio was Delano Kennedy, who lined up in heat two and finished second in 45.82 to advance.
Reigning national champion Antonio Watson followed in heat three, clocking 46.36 to be first past the line.
Zandrion Barnes completed the procession for Jamaica, his 45.13, the fastest time of the round.
In the men’s 800m, national 800m record holder Navasky Anderson advanced to the semi-finals, finishing third in heat two in one minute, 48.12 seconds (1:48.12).
Jamaica will return to action on day three of the athletics programme with the men’s long jump final and the women’s shot put final.
Tajay Gayle and Jordan Turner will compete in the men’s long jump while Lloydricia Cameron will wave Jamaica’s banner in the women’s shot put.
gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com