Commonwealth Games 2022 LIVE: Laura Muir storms to 1500m gold after England win women’s hockey title
Follow day 10 at the 2022 Commonwealth Games with 45 gold medals up for grabs
A thrilling penultimate day at Birmingham 2022 has delivered more action to this thoroughly entertaining Commonwealth Games, with 45 gold medals in total set to be dished out by the end of the evening.
Tonight was all about Laura Muir, and the Scotland star produced a brilliant kick to win gold in the women’s 1500m final, adding to her 800m bronze from the previous evening. Later, a wide-open men’s 800m final, was won by Kenya’s Wyclife Kinyamal ahead of Australia’s Peter Bol, with England’s Ben Pattison taking bronze.
Eilish McColgan added to her 10,000m gold with a gutsy silver in the 5,000m and there was further joy as England’s women wrapped up the action at the Alexander Stadium with a dramatic gold in the 4x400m final. It was short lived, however, after the team was disqualified following a lane infringment.
Earlier, home-town hero Matt Hudson-Smith was left disappointed when forced to settle for silver in the men’s 400m, while Victoria Ohuruogu was more upbeat, grabbing a silver in the women’s 400m final. There was drama in the 4x100m relay finals, with England men and Nigeria women prevailing.
In the afternoon, a dramatic men’s cycling road race saw Geraint Thomas fall just short with a late push to break the lead group, leaving New Zealand’s Aaron Gate to sprint clear and win a fourth gold at these Games. And in the result of the day, England pulled off a shock to stun Australia and win Commonwealth gold in the women’s hockey final. Follow all the action throughout the evening below:
Police probe disappearance of three Sri Lankan athletes at Commonwealth Games
Birmingham police have opened an investigation into the disappearance of three members of the Sri Lankan Commonwealth Games team, while all remaining athletes and officials from the country have been asked to hand in their passports.
A team spokesperson confirmed that a wrestler, a judoka and a judo coach have vanished from their accommodation at the Commonwealth Games athletes village.
Sri Lanka is experiencing civil unrest amid its worst ever economic crisis, with the country’s parliament declaring a state of emergency last week.
Police probe disappearance of three Sri Lankan athletes at Commonwealth Games
Birmingham police have opened an investigation into the disappearance of three members of the Sri Lankan Commonwealth Games team.
England’s Zoe Newson wins powerlifting gold
It’s a busy day of powerlifting at the NEC, with the women’s lightweight competition first up and won in impressive fashion by Zoe Newson. THat will taste rather sweet for Newson, who considered giving up the sport after giving birth to a son after the last Commonwealth Games, but eventually elected to continue competing. She’s also bounced back from a fourth-placed finish in the 41kg category at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, taking gold with 100.2 points in front of another strong home crowd.
Hellen Kariuki of Kenya secures silver, while Newson’s teammate Olivia Broome finishes with bronze.
There was a little bit of drama before the lifting started as the two Nigerian athletes due to compete showed up 25 minutes late for the kit check and were disqualified.
English pair top qualifying for women’s 10m platform final
Five dives done for each of the 14 competitors in the women’s 10m platform, with Canada’s Renee Batalla and Mikali Dawson of New Zealand the two entrants who will not be joining us for the final this evening.
Top of the tree in the preliminary round was Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, with compatriot Lois Toulson not far behind. Another English diver in Eden Cheng could also contend for a medal - she beat Spendolini-Sirieix by the narrowest of margins at a very competitive British Diving Championships in May.
Geraint Thomas settles for time-trial bronze after crash as Rohan Dennis wins gold
Geraint Thomas has endured many bone-breaking crashes in his career but it was an innocuous tussle with a metal barrier which cost him a shot at Commonwealth gold in the Black Country.
With around 50 technical turns to navigate, this was a time-trial course to reward those who risked pushing to its ragged edge, but Thomas was punished for overcommitting as he ran wide and lost his rear tyre before spilling over the feet of a steel fence early on the 37km route.
The Welshman dusted himself down to win bronze, finishing half a minute behind Australia’s Rohan Dennis who took gold and a few seconds behind England’s silver-medallist Fred Wright.
Lawrence Ostlere on another day of misfortune for Thomas:
Geraint Thomas settles for time-trial bronze after crash as Rohan Dennis wins gold
England’s Fred Wright won silver as Thomas had to settle for third place in the men’s time-trial
Men’s Time Trial Result: 1 Rohan Dennis, 2 Fred Wright, 3 Geraint Thomas
Geraint Thomas wears a familiar look of disappointment as he is guided towards the medallists’ chairs, where Rohan Dennis is stripping off his cleats alongside Fred Wright. Victory would surely have been his had he not hit the deck.
Another medal so soon after a gruelling three weeks in France is not to be sniffed at. Aaron Gate of New Zealand takes fourth place, with Australia’s Lucas Plapp down in fifth after his own misfortune.
ROHAN DENNIS WINS GOLD IN MEN’S TIME TRIAL!
Around the final bend, one final stomp of the pedals, and it is gold for Rohan Dennis, 26.28 seconds quicker over the course than Fred Wright - who did gain time against the clock in the final kilometres.
That makes the battle for silver all the more interesting. Thomas or Wright, Wales or England - here comes Thomas, pushing hard...
Silver for Fred Wright! That brilliant last surge earlier has earned Wright his first major medal, continuining an outstanding summer for the young rider. Thomas has to be content with bronze again. How he will wonder what might have been but for that fall early on. He’d have been right there with Dennis.
Dennis on his way to gold
It was silver at Glasgow 2014 for Rohan Dennis but it appears the Australian will be securing a Commonwealth crown this afternoon - he still looks strong in the Black Country sun as he approaches the final kilometres in Wolverhampton. He’s got 31 seconds, still, on Geraint Thomas, riding admirably after that early error.
The more intriguing battle might be Thomas against Wright - the Welshman has a slight advantage but if he begins to tire after that incident, Wright might just snatch a surprise silver.
Second diving event of the day
A quick trip back to the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, where we’ve swapped the low board for the high board and the women’s individual 10m platform. There are 14 entrants, which means two to be cut before this evening’s final. England’s Andrea Spendolini Sirieix is a diver of real promise and has begun superbly, with three excellent dives to start her preliminary round.
Teammate Lois Toulson took bronze on the Gold Coast four years ago and should also progress. We’ll round up the qualifiers when they are confirmed.
A crash for Dan Bigham
Another British rider in the barriers! Dan Bigham was pushing as hard as he could to remain in medal contention, but around a sweeping right-hander he got his line slightly wrong and ended up colliding with the barriers protecting a group of spectators at a set of traffic lights. Bigham flips over on to his back and there is a moment of confusion as he considers whether to retrieve the bike he began on or call for another from the car, eventually hurrying over to the four-by-four to climb aboard a replacement and set off once more.
Second time check
Rohan Dennis has further fattened his advantage on Fred Wright through the second time check, 44 seconds up and well on his way to gold.
Geraint Thomas has had a good section despite those problems - he’s slower only than Dennis, 32 seconds or so behind the Australian, and apparently keen to press on rather than attend whatever issue was troubling him.
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