GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, July 27–August 01 — With most of the attention focused on favorite son Josh Kerr, new holder of the mile World Record, it was actually Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme who stole the headlines with the best race of the Commonwealth Games.
Running in cool Scottish rain (and a 1.3 tailing wind), the 32-year-old zipped a national record 9.83 to top Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy (9.85) in a 100 race where the top 4 all ran 9.91 or better.
Said Eseme, who used a late-race surge to move from 3rd to 1st, “After the semifinals I got the national record, 9.89, and it was a pretty cool race, very chill. I just said to myself, ‘You may not be the best starter. They may let you go in the first 50m, but just keep it, don’t rush anything.’
“Somehow at the end, I know I’m going to catch them, because when I get there and they’re seeing around me, I know I’m going to catch them. So I just decided to execute my race without following them.”
In the 23rd edition of the sports festival that began in 1930 as the British Empire Games, organizers decided to give a nod to the event’s history and return to running the classic mile distance. As a business move, it was positively brilliant, with excitement pitched around Kerr and his 3:42.66 two weeks earlier. He was just one of the three 1500 world champions on the line.
While the final went in a pedestrian 3:54.12, it still delivered plenty of adrenaline. From the start, the racing was physical. Early leader Tshepiso Masalela of Botswana covered the 400 in 59.8, while New Zealand’s Sam Tanner ran at the front of the congested pack at 800 (2:02.8). All the while, Kerr ran calmly on the inside in mid-pack.
Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot made his big move after 900 and broke the race open with a 28.4 for the next 200, Australian Cam Myers following closely. Kerr had to elbow his way out of the ruck to respond, and at the bell (3:00.5) he was 3rd. He caught Cheruiyot on the backstretch and over the final 200 he demonstrated astounding fitness, leaving the rest to battle for the remaining medals as he closed with a 25.3 for gold. Myers edged Cheruiyot for silver, 3:55.26–3:55.41.
Said Kerr, “It doesn’t get any better than this. This is absolutely incredible. To do it in front of a Scottish crowd where I learned how to race. I came here week after week growing up as a kid.
“I’m fit at the moment, I’ll say that,” he added. “I love this style of racing. I knew that was what it was going to be coming in.”
Women’s action in Scotstoun Stadium also provided thrills. WR holder Tobi Amusan ran a windy 12.19 for her heat of the 100H, but in the final, it was Devynne Charlton who prevailed. The Bahamian got ahead of Amusan early and pressed hard to stay there, reaching the line in 12.33w (wind 2.5). Jamaica’s Megan Simmonds took silver in 12.41 and Amusan bronze in 12.60. Later, Amusan said she hurt her knee in a training fall some weeks earlier.
New Zealand’s Eliza McCartney made her first podium since the ’24 World Indoor, beating Nina Kennedy on misses in the vault. Both topped 15-3 (4.65). “I wasn’t expecting it,” said the Kiwi.
Australian fans had plenty to cheer, with Rose Davies becoming the first woman to win CWG golds at both the 5000 (14:44.53, outkicking Jessica Hull) and 10,000 (31:39.32). In the latter she ended a Kenyan win streak dating back to ’06. “I just gave it everything,” said Davies. “I just wanted it so bad.”
Then in the mile, Abbey Caldwell led an Aussie podium sweep in a tactical 4:39.31.
And while there may not have been a Bulldog cheering section in the stands, Georgia got two wins. First Adaejah Hodge, running for the British Virgin Islands, grabbed 200 gold in 22.07 (after a 22.01 heat). Then on the final day, Jamaica’s Dejanea Oakley dominated the 400 in 50.21.
COMMONWEALTH MEN’S MEDALISTS
100(1.3): 1. Emmanuel Eseme (Cam) 9.83 NR; 2. Lachlan Kennedy (Aus) 9.85 NR; 3. Kayinsola Ajayi (Ngr) 9.90.
200(1.7): 1. Sinesipho Dambile (SA) 19.96; 2. Udodi Onwuzurike (Ngr) 20.09; 3. Christopher Taylor (Jam) 20.11 PR.
400: 1. Samuel Ogazi (Ngr) 44.25; 2. Jereem Richards (Tri) 44.82; 3. Zakithi Nene (SA) 45.21.
800: 1. Navasky Anderson (Jam) 1:45.33; 2. Luke Boyes (Aus) 1:45.93; 3. Wycliffe Kinyamal (Ken) 1:46.12.
Mile: 1. Josh Kerr (GB) 3:54.12; 2. Cam Myers (Aus) 3:55.26; 3. Timothy Cheruiyot (Ken) 3:55.41.
St: 1. Edmund Serem (Ken) 8:18.23; 2. Simon Koech (Ken) 8:18.59; 3. Leonard Bett (Ken) 8:21.63.
5000: 1. Mathew Kipsang (Ken) 13:23.61; 2. Ky Robinson (Aus) 13:24.70; 3. Gulveer Singh (Ind) 13:24.954.
10,000: 1. Robinson 27:48.93; 2. Singh 27:49.78; 3. David Mullarkey (IOM (GB)) 27:50.28.
110H(0.4): 1. Demario Prince (Jam) 13.17; 2. Sam Bennett (GB) 13.30 PR; 3. Milan Trajkovic (Cyp) 13.32.
400H: 1. Nathaniel Ezekiel (Ngr) 48.47; 2. Jake Minshull (GB) 48.99; 3. Assinie Wilson (Jam) 49.22.
10W: 1. Isaac Beacroft (Aus) 38:45.51; 2. Stephen Kihu (Ken) 38:46.57 NR; 3. Evan Dunfee (Can) 40:03.39.
4 x 100: 1. Australia 38.07; 2. Canada 38.11; 3. Nigeria 38.12.
Mixed 4 x 400: 1. Jamaica 3:10.97; 2. England 3:11.58 NR; 3. Nigeria 3:12.85.
HJ: 1. Romaine Beckford (Jam) 7-4½ (2.25); 2. Sarvesh Anil Kushare (Ind) 7-4½; 3. Kimani Jack (GB) 7-2½ (2.20).
PV: 1. Kurtis Marschall (Aus) 19-2¼ (5.85); 2. Kyle Rademeyer (SA) 18-8¼ (5.70); 3. Owen Heard (GB) 18-8¼ =PR.
LJ: 1. Tajay Gayle (Jam) 26-9 (8.15); 2. Murali Sreeshankar (Ind) 26-6½ (8.09); 3. Stephen Mackenzie (GB) 26-6¼ (8.08).
TJ: 1. Jordan Scott (Jam) 54-10¼w (16.72) (54-2½/16.52); 2. Praveen Chithravel (Ind) 54-4¾ (16.58); 3. T. Selva Prabhu (Ind) 54-2½ (16.52).
SP: 1. Chuk Enekwechi (Ngr) 69-1½ (21.07); 2. Tom Walsh (NZ) 69-0 (21.03); 3. Scott Lincoln (GB) 68-10½ (20.99).
DT: 1. Matt Denny (Aus) 222-2 (67.73); 2. Fedrick Dacres (Jam) 213-7 (65.10); 3. Lawrence Okoye (GB) 211-5 (64.45).
HT: 1. Ethan Katzberg (Can) 265-7 (80.97); 2. Iosef Kesides (Cyp) 252-6 (76.97); 3. Rowan Hamilton (Can) 247-3 (75.36).
JT: 1. Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (SrL) 294-5 (89.75); 2. Neeraj Chopra (Ind) 281-7 (85.83); 3. Yashvir Singh (Ind) 280-2 (85.41) PR.
Dec: 1. Lindon Victor (Grn) 8096; 2. Damian Warner (Can) 8036; 3. Tejaswin Shankar (Ind) 7976.
COMMONWEALTH WOMEN’S MEDALISTS
100(1.0): 1. Zoe Hobbs (NZ) 10.93 NR; 2. Amy Hunt (GB) 10.98; 3. Torrie Lewis (Aus) 10.99 NR.
200(1.7): 1. Adaejah Hodge (BVI) 22.07; 2. Shaniqua Bascombe (Tri) 22.35; 3. Alana Reid (Jam) 22.56.
400: 1. Dejanea Oakley (Jam) 50.21; 2. Sada Williams (Bar) 50.99; 3. Ella Onojuvwevwo (Ngr) 51.00.
800: 1. Georgia Hunter Bell (GB) 1:59.51; 2. Lilian Odira (Ken) 2:00.58; 3. Sarah Billings (Aus) 2:00.61.
Mile: 1. Abbey Caldwell (Aus) 4:39.31; 2. Jessica Hull (Aus) 4:39.86; 3. Claudia Hollingsworth (Aus) 4:40.20.
St: 1. Faith Cherotich (Ken) 9:01.76; 2. Elise Thorner (GB) 9:05.45 PR; 3. Peruth Chemutai (Uga) 9:09.96.
5000: 1. Rose Davies (Aus) 14:44.53; 2. Jessica Hull (Aus) 14:45.01; 3. Megan Keith (GB) 14:49.10.
10,000: 1. Davies 31:39.32; 2. Diana Wanza (Ken) 31:50.13; 3. Florence Niyonkuru (Rwa) 31:55.47.
100H(2.5): 1. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 12.33w; 2. Megan Simmonds (Jam) 12.41w; 3. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.60w.
Heats: I(3.8)–1. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.19w (a-c: x, =6 W).
400H: 1. Sanique Walker (Jam) 54.00 PR; 2. Emily Newnham (GB) 54.04; 3. Savannah Sutherland (Can) 54.16.
10W: 1. Jemima Montag (Aus) 42:13.40 PR; 2. Elizabeth McMillen (Aus) 42:39.87; 3. Rebecca Henderson (Aus) 43:27.46.
4 x 100: 1. Jamaica 42.65; 2. Canada 42.76; 3. Trinidad 43.07.
HJ: 1. Eleanor Patterson (Aus) 6-5 (1.96); 2. Nicola Olyslagers (Aus) 6-4 (1.93); 3. Temitope Adeshina (Ngr) 6-2¾ (1.90).
PV: 1. Eliza McCartney (NZ) 15-3 (4.65); 2. Nina Kennedy (Aus) 15-3; 3. Imogen Ayris (NZ) 14-11 (4.55).
LJ: 1. Jazmin Sawyers (GB) 22-9w (6.93) (22-1¾/6.75); 2. Ruth Usoro (Ngr) 22-6½w (6.87); 3. Brooke Buschkuehl (Aus) 22-3¾w (6.80) (22-3½/6.79).
TJ: 1. Thea LaFond (Dom) 47-10¾ (14.60); 2. Ackelia Smith (Jam) 46-¾ (14.04); 3. Shantae Foreman (Jam) 45-9¾ (13.96).
SP: 1. Sarah Mitton (Can) 65-2¾ (19.88); 2. Jessica Oji (Ngr) 58-7½ (17.87); 3. Lloydricia Cameron (Jam) 58-7½ (17.87).
DT: 1. Samantha Hall (Jam) 202-3 (61.66); 2. Julia Tunks (Can) 199-0 (60.67); 3. Seema Kaliramna (Ind) 192-5 (58.65).
HT: 1. Camryn Rogers (Can) 245-9 (74.91); 2. Lauren Bruce (NZ) 229-1 (69.82); 3. Lara Roberts (Aus) 223-3 (68.05).
JT: 1. Mackenzie Little (Aus) 203-0 (61.88); 2. Tori Moorby (NZ) 197-0 (60.04); 3. Irene Jepkemboi (Ken) 189-9 (57.85).
Hept: 1. Kate O’Connor (GB) 6569; 2. Jade O’Dowda (GB) 6278; 3. Tori West (Aus) 6104.
