Shane Brathwaite kept this country’s slim Commonwealth Games medal hopes alive by reaching the final of today’s 110 metres hurdles in Queensland, Australia.
It was not an inspiring performance, however, as Brathwaite was one of the slowest qualifiers. He was fifth in heat one yesterday with a time of 13.64 seconds and squeezed through as one of the next two fastest outside of the top three.
At the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2014, Brathwaite secured a bronze, which was the only medal earned by the Barbados contingent.
The top three from the two heats automatically qualified for the final which features three Jamaicans led by Olympic gold medallist Hansle Parchment, who won the second heat in 13.30 seconds with compatriot Ronald Levy second in 13.35.
Fast rising 18-year-old Jamaican De’Jour Russell had an identical time to Brathwaite in heat one.
Tia Ada-Belle will make her first appearance today in the opening round of the 400 metres hurdles. Belle, who has a season best time of 55.42 seconds, will line up in lane three.
On the netball court, Jamaica, who are ranked fourth in the world, brushed aside Barbados 76-32, leading at every turn in a Pool A match which had 37 turnovers. Veteran Latonia Blackman, who at 35 is the oldest member of the team, scored 17 of 19 tries, Shonica Wharton scored nine of 12 and Nikita Payne, six of nine.
Barbados, who have had just one victory in three matches, will clash today with Northern Ireland.
Olympian Alex Sobers once more found the going tough in the pool. Swimming in heat 4 of the 50-metre freestyle, Sobers clocked 23.75 seconds, but with the majority of the top swimmers clocking sub-23 seconds, failed to make it to the last 16.
In those opening races, six men clocked under-23 seconds in Heat 7 while seven men went under 23 seconds in Heat 8.
The favourites in today’s final are England’s Benjamin Proud, who was the fastest qualifier with an impressive time of 21.30 seceonds. His main challenge could come from the South African Bradley Tandy, who is the second fastest qualifier.
There are three Englishmen and three Australians in the final.
Barbadian Jamali Breedy will step into the boxing ring in the 52 kg round of 16. The 20-year-old Breedy, who shares the same birthday (April 26) as squash queen Meagan Best, will exchange punches with Brendan Irvine of Northern Ireland.
Today on the shooting range, Richard Arthur and Jason Wood will compete in the Queen’s Prize points finals while 63-year-old Louis Estwick will battle it out in the 50-metre rifle prone qualification.
Today should be a busy day for some of this island’s top table tennis players – Tyrese Knight, Mark Dowell and Kristian Dought, all of whom will be involved in the men’s singles. Much is expected of the 18-year-old Knight, who will clash with Nigel Bryan of Guyana. (MK)
