Gayle back on top

Jamaica increased its medal tally by two on yesterday’s third day of track and field competition at the XXIII Commonwealth Games inside the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, as Tajay Gayle picked up gold in the men’s long jump for the country’s third top finish, while Lloydricia Cameron won bronze in the women’s shot put.

After three days of competition, Jamaica are now in third on the track and field medal table with four medals – three gold and one bronze. Australia leads with 10 medals, including three gold, three silver and four bronze, while Canada are second with seven – three gold, two silver and two bronze.

The top qualifier coming into the men’s long jump following preliminary-round action two days earlier, Gayle, the 2019 Doha World Championships gold medallist, did not disappoint.

Lying third following his first three attempts, Gayle took the lead on his fourth, producing 8.15 metres to hold on for the win and the gold medal.

Sreeshankar of India finished second for silver with 8.09m, finishing ahead of Scotland’s Stephen McKenzie, who took bronze with 8.08m. Jamaica’s other competitor in the event, Jordan Turner, ended ninth with a distance of 7.65m.

Cameron picked up the country’s second medal on the day, finishing third in the women’s shot put finals to cop bronze with a throw of 17.87m. She produced the same distance as silver medallist Jessica Oji of Nigeria, while Sarah Mitton of Canada, the World Championships silver medallist, won gold with a distance of 19.88m.

It was a fairly good day for Jamaican athletes yesterday, as several of them advanced to the next round of their respective events.

In the semi-finals of the women’s 400m hurdles, Sanique Walker (54.83 seconds) and Shiann Salmon (55.30) won their respective heats to advance to Friday’s final as the two fastest qualifiers.

Lavanya Williams, 22.91, and Alana Reid, 22.95, won their 200-metre heats to move on to today’s semi-finals at 2:05 p.m. Jamaica time, where they will be joined by Ashanti Moore.

In the men’s 200m, JeVaughn Powell, 20.28, and Roshawn Clarke, 20.56, won their heats, while Chris Taylor was second in his heat in 20.36 to advance to today’s semi-finals at 1:07 p.m.

Assinie Wilson is through to the men’s 400m hurdles final after finishing second in his heat in 49.19 seconds to be the sixth-fastest qualifier.

Following the semi-finals in the women’s 800m, only Kelly-Ann Beckford has advanced to the final. She finished third in her heat in 1:59.96 to be the fourth-fastest overall, while Adelle Tracey failed to advance after finishing fourth in her heat in 2:02.54, leaving her 10th overall.

BUSY DAY AWAITS

Sprint hurdlers Kerrica Hill and Megan Simmonds will be the first Jamaicans in action when they contest the first round of the women’s 100m hurdles, with the final slated for later in the day. Hill will run from lane six in heat one, while Simmonds will come out of lane eight in heat 11.

At 6:25 a.m, Jordan Scott will be in action in the qualification round of the men’s triple jump.

The outstanding Dejanea Oakley will lead three Jamaicans in the semi-finals of the women’s 400m at 6:45 a.m. She will run from lane six in heat two, while Leah Anderson will start in lane three of heat three, and Shauna Kay Anderson will run from lane eight in semi-final 1.

The semi-finals of the men’s 400m will close out the first session, with three Jamaicans – Zandrion Barnes, Delano Kennedy and Antonio Watson – in action. Barnes will run from lane eight in heat one, Kennedy from lane eight in heat two, and Watson from lane six in heat three.

National record holder Navasky Anderson will be in action in the semi-finals of the men’s 800m at 2:40 p.m. He will compete in heat one from lane six.

Samantha Hall will be in action in the women’s discus final at 2:40 p.m after triple jumpers Ackelia Smith and Shantae Foreman compete in the women’s triple jump final at 1:25 p.m.

MISSED MEDAL

After surprising England 21-20 in the quarter-finals of the women’s 3x3 basketball, Jamaica lost to Australia in yesterday’s semi-final, going down 21-8. Later, the team lost a tough bronze medal game against New Zealand.

The 18-13 loss took place before Australia completed their run to the gold medal with the 21-11 demolition of Uganda.