Cult hero Rohan Browning has finished sixth in the final of the 100m at the Commonwealth Games.
Just an hour after he became the first Australian to reach a Commonwealth Games 100m final since 2010, Browning endured a disappointing final run that left him just 0.06 seconds short of the bronze medal at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
It was the closest Australia has got to winning a medal in the men’s blue ribbon event since Matt Shirvington’s lightning time of 10.03 still wasn’t enough for him to get a medal at the 1998 Games.
Australia has never won a medal in the men’s event since the Commonwealth Games changed the distance to 100m in 1970. Now we have to wait at least four more years.
Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala won gold in 10.02 and reigning champion Akani Simbine won silver in 10.13. Sri Lanka’s Yupun Abeykoon took bronze with 10.14 with Browning crossing the line in 10.20.
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24-year-old Browning exploded out of the blocks and was right there in the mix with 40m to run. However, he slipped back slightly in the final run to the line and had to settle for a result that Aussie athletics great Tamsyn Manou said would have made him “bitterly disappointed”.
“He wasn’t far off,” she said in commentary on Channel 7.
“He looks bitterly disappointed, but I’m OK with that because that means he wanted more.”
In a cruel twist, Browning’s time of 10.10 seconds he set in the heats would have been enough for the silver medal.
Browning was philosophical when assessing his performance after the race. Browning said he “didn’t quite have the gas”.
“It’s nice to make a final and go through rounds of running. It’s a step in the right direction, I would’ve loved to be on the podium,” he added.
“I’m not satisfied by any means, but not too beat up. It’s been one of those seasons, and always learning.”
Browning is also just the fourth Aussie to make a Commonwealth Games 100m final in the past 30 years.
He joins Aaron Rouge-Serret (fifth in 2010) and Patrick Johnson (sixth in 2006) in the list of Aussies who have fallen agonizingly short.
Browning produced his best run of the year to send a message in the heats on Tuesday night (AEST).
He won his heat in a time of 10.10 in a spectacular turnaround from the World Championships in Oregon last month where he was unable to get out of the heats.
Browning, who famously ran 10.01 to win his heat at the Tokyo Olympics last year, looks like he is the real deal once again.
He said part of his bounce back from the world championships is the “humiliating” factor of failing to reach the semi-finals.
“I try not to take it to heart,” he said.
“There’s always that humiliation element when you get run out in the heats, but just trying to bounce back from it and not take it to heart and just trust that the form is there, it’s just in the execution. I think I’ve tapped into a good vein of form.”
Jake Doran, Australia’s second-fastest man, was unable to reach the final, finishing eighth in Heat 2 in a time of 10.40 seconds.
LIVE: It’s Day 6 of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and it’s set to be another cracker for the Aussies.
After 11 golds and 32 medals total on Day 5, Australia will be targeting more success – with a packed schedule in the Athletics, plus the final action in the pool.
Follow all the action in our live blog below and check back for regular updates!
Superstar Peter Bol opened his campaign in style, cruising into the end of the 800m after crossing the line in his heat in first place. While sprint star Rohan Browning is back in action in the 100m semis – and hopefully the final at 6.30am AEST.
In the pool, Ariarne Titmus hunts gold in the 400m, while Se-Bom Lee hits the water in the 200m individual medley.
There’s also plenty of other action on offer, with the Kookaburras back on the hockey field after the Hockeyroos’ comfortable victory early on day six, plus our Aussie women’s cricket who are on top against Pakistan.
That’s not to mention beach volleyball, table tennis, lawn bowls, or mountain biking and so on …
LIVE MEDAL TALLY: Keep up with the Aussie charge to the top!
EVERY AUSSIE MEDAL: Read the day-by-day recap of the Comm Games
Aussie heartbreak! Poms steal GOLD in OT | 00:25
DAY FIVE NEWS
WRAP: McKeon makes history after epic upset as Aussies surge with ELEVEN gold
‘Clunky’ Diamonds get job done as focus shifts to massive battle with Jamaica
English swimming star apologizes after backlash to ‘arrogant’ interview
Cody Simpson has blown us all away at the Commonwealth Games
Aussie cult hero goes bang at Commonwealth Games after ‘humiliation’
‘Blood in the water’: The ambush we should have seen coming as next Aussie superstar emerges
CHALMERS, AUSSIES FALL SHORT IN MASSIVE BOILOVER
Despite a sizzling anchor leg from Kyle Chalmers, Australia failed to win the men’s 4 x 100m medley relay as England caused a major upset to snare the gold.
England finished with a time of 3:31:80 while Australia touched the wall at 3:31:88.
Chalmers swam a split of 46.86 as it looked for all money that he would catch up to English swimmer Tom Dean, but it wasn’t enough.
TITMUS BEATS TEEN SENSATION TO WIN FOURTH GOLD
Ariarne Titmus has set a new Commonwealth Games record after winning the women’s 400m freestyle.
Titmus – the world record holder, defending Commonwealth Games champion, and the Olympic champion – beat 15-year-old Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh who ultimately came second in the race while Aussie Kiah Melverton took home the bronze.
Titmus touched the wall at 3:58:06, a few seconds off her personal best, but it did the job as she won her fourth medal in Birmingham.
STARC BATTLES SERIOUS INJURY AMID MEDAL TILT
Brandon Starc doesn’t look comfortable, grimacing as he deals with a reported foot injury in the men’s high jump final.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games champion needed two attempts to clear 2.15m then missed his first two efforts at 2.19m.
“That was not displaying much purpose. He did not get up off the ground, the foot injury no doubt playing on his mind, ”Channel 7’s David Culbert said.
Starc is battling a foot injury. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“With the troubles he has had you can see the body language is a bit of concern, does not look like the sort of athlete up and about feeling 100 per cent.”
Starc recovered with his third and final jump at 2.19m to stay alive, giving a little smile after nailing the height. Seven’s Matt Hill said: “Really good facial expression in contrast to what we saw a few moments ago.”
He then went on to clear 2.25m to throw down the gauntlet to the rest of the competition.
– via James Matthey, news.com.au
AUSSIE STAR SECURE GOLD IN EPIC BATTLE OF ENDURANCE
Sam Short has won the gold medal in the men’s 1500m freestyle in a physically grievous battle.
Short, who is just 18 years of age, touched the wall at 14:48:54, at a time that smashed his previous personal best by 10 seconds.
Speaking after the race, Short couldn’t hide his beaming smile as he can count himself among the elites of Australian swimming like Kieren Perkins and Grant Hackett.
“All those names are incredible to me,” Short said.
“Standing here today, I didn’t think I would be in the same sentence as them. Four years ago I watched this event and didn’t know I would be in the same position.”
Ariane Titmus won gold in the women’s 800 meter freestyle and backed it up with a strong swim in the 400m to qualify in third spot for the final. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
Lani Pallister and Kiah Melverton made it a one-two-three for Australia in the heat.
FAVORITE BOWL FOR 800M FINAL
Peter Bol is once again turning heads, having flown into the men’s 800 final.
After a disappointing finish at the world championships, Bol returned to the form that made him a household name at the Tokyo Olympics and blitzed the field in the second heat, posting a time of 1:47:01.
“It’s great to be here,” Bol told Channel 7. “Unbelievable crowd as well. It’s an awesome feeling.
“Two championships in a row. It’s almost like it’s a second chance. I ran exactly how I wanted, and now four days off and back for the final.”
Australia’s Peter Bol (R) reacts after finishing in first place during the second heat of the men’s 800m at the Alexander Stadium, in Birmingham. Photo: AFPSource: AFP
The news wasn’t so good for fellow Australian Charlie Hunter, who missed out on the final after posting a time of 1:49:94.
Meanwhile, Steve Solomon has qualified for the semi-finals of the men’s 400m. The 29-year-old finished second in the opening heat of the event.
“I’m really happy with today’s run,” he said.
“I’ve had a challenging season to put it lightly. I’m really looking forward to coming back Friday night.
“I just wasn’t able to get the body right for (the world’s) and I’m proud of how I’ve refocused. It’s exciting times.”
STAR DUO SMOKE PAKISTAN
Australia remains unbeaten in cricket, after a clinical 44-run win over Pakistan.
Early on though and a big victory seemed a long way off.
The world champions slumped to 2-19 after the early exits of Alyssa Healy (4) and captain Meg Lanning (4), before opener Beth Mooney (70* off 49) and Tahlia McGrath (78* off 51) put Australia in the driver’s seat with their 141-run unbeaten third-wicket stand. In the end Australia finished 2-160 to set an imposing target.
Pakistan never really were in it, losing wickets regularly and finished 8-116.
McGrath took 3-13 and a run out to go along with her fabulous half-century, while Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Jessica Jonassen and Alan King each took a wicket.
Tahlia McGrath and Beth Mooney hit half-centuries during Australia’s big win over Pakistan. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
FLYING HOCKEYROOS
The Hockeyroos’ perfect start continued, as Katrina Powell’s side had a comfortable 2-0 win over Scotland.
The victory sealed top spot in Pool B for the Hockeyroos and a place in the final four.
Grace Stewart celebrates with teammates after scoring their side’s first goal against Scotland on day six of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
While Powell’s side dominated much of the game, they had to wait until late in the second term to find the back of the goals as Grace Stewart finished nicely to put Australia in front.
Shanea Tonkin then doubled Australia’s lead to confirm a comfortable victory.
SELECTED SCHEDULE (MORE TO COME)
ATHLETICS
Men’s 100m – 6:30am (Thursday)
HOCKEY
Men’s Group Matches – Australia v South Africa (6am)
LAWN BOWLS
Tons of action from 5.30pm AEST, culminating in theFor Women’s Pairs B6-B8 Gold Medal match – Australia v Scotland (midnight)
You don’t win gold in the qualifying rounds — and now teen star Muzala Samukonga knows it better than anyone.
The Zambian runner smoked the field in the heats of the men’s 400m at Alexander Stadium on Wednesday night (AEST), powering all the way to the finish line to shave 0.13 seconds off his personal best.
However, he collapsed on the ground after crossing the line and appeared to be in distress as officials attended to him.
The 19-year-old won Heat 5 by more than 10m from his nearest competitor and went through to the semi-finals with the fastest time of 44.89 seconds — the first time he has ever gone under the 45 second mark.
However, he might have paid a hefty price for running the personal best and he was seen clutching at his left hamstring after crossing the line. In a confronting sight, he was also seen to be punching his upper leg as he grimaced on the ground.
After attempting to get to his feet, Samukonga fell back to the ground before a wheelchair was brought out to carry him out of the stadium.
It appeared to be a case of severe cramp and Aussie athletics great Tamsyn Manou said she suspects Samukonga was suffering from “lactic acid pain”.
“He’s in liquor there. Definite all sorts,” the former Olympian told Channel 7.
“That’s just lactic acid pain pulsating through those legs.”
When asked what that feels like, Manou responded: “It’s horrendous. He’s got it that badly. He’s got it really bad. He’s going to take a while to recover from that.
“He’s going to need an ice bath for a while.”
His participation in the semi-finals on Saturday morning (AEST) has not been confirmed.
Former British middle-distance runner Tim Hutchings told the Commonwealth Games host broadcasting service Samukonga brought it on himself.
“Maybe he thought I may never get a chance to run sub-45 (seconds) again,” Hutchings said.
“I think most coaches would say, ‘it’s great to run a personal best, but actually this is just extravagant and you will pay for it’.
“That’s a 10m winning margin — and more by the time he hits the line.
“Really, really unnecessary. No one else goes under 46 seconds.
“He runs 44.89 seconds and dare I say, he’s the word naive.
“An incredible run, but I hope that’s not the last we see of him in Birmingham.”
Aussie Steve Solomon also moved through to the semi-finals as the sixth-quickest overall qualifier after finishing second in his heat with a time of 45.98 seconds.
You don’t win gold in the qualifying rounds — and now teen star Muzala Samukonga knows it better than anyone.
The Zambian runner smoked the field in the heats of the men’s 400m at Alexander Stadium on Wednesday night (AEST), powering all the way to the finish line to shave 0.13 seconds off his personal best.
However, he collapsed on the ground after crossing the line and appeared to be in distress as officials attended to him.
The 19-year-old won Heat 5 by more than 10m from his nearest competitor and went through to the semi-finals with the fastest time of 44.89 seconds — the first time he has ever gone under the 45 second mark.
However, he might have paid a hefty price for running the personal best and he was seen clutching at his left hamstring after crossing the line. In a confronting sight, he was also seen to be punching his upper leg as he grimaced on the ground.
After attempting to get to his feet, Samukonga fell back to the ground before a wheelchair was brought out to carry him out of the stadium.
It appeared to be a case of severe cramp and Aussie athletics great Tamsyn Manou said she suspects Samukonga was suffering from “lactic acid pain”.
“He’s in liquor there. Definite all sorts,” the former Olympian told Channel 7.
“That’s just lactic acid pain pulsating through those legs.”
When asked what that feels like, Manou responded: “It’s horrendous. He’s got it that badly. He’s got it really bad. He’s going to take a while to recover from that.
“He’s going to need an ice bath for a while.”
His participation in the semi-finals on Saturday morning (AEST) has not been confirmed.
Former British middle-distance runner Tim Hutchings told the Commonwealth Games host broadcasting service Samukonga brought it on himself.
“Maybe he thought I may never get a chance to run sub-45 (seconds) again,” Hutchings said.
“I think most coaches would say, ‘it’s great to run a personal best, but actually this is just extravagant and you will pay for it’.
“That’s a 10m winning margin — and more by the time he hits the line.
“Really, really unnecessary. No one else goes under 46 seconds.
“He runs 44.89 seconds and dare I say, he’s the word naive.
“An incredible run, but I hope that’s not the last we see of him in Birmingham.”
Aussie Steve Solomon also moved through to the semi-finals as the sixth-quickest overall qualifier after finishing second in his heat with a time of 45.98 seconds.
National record holder Peter Bol has ignored a pre-race injury scare to cruise into the men’s 800 meter final at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Key points:
Bol is the fastest qualifier for the final with a time of 1:47.01
He says he was not troubled by a rolled ankle in the lead-up to his heat
Bol was seventh at the recent world championships
Bol rolled his ankle when stepping on the curb at the training track on Tuesday.
But the threat of injury did not hamper the Australian in his 800m heat on Wednesday night AEST.
Bol went to the lead with 250 meters to run and enjoyed the luxury of easing right down in the final straight before crossing the line first in one minute and 47.01 seconds.
After clocking the fastest qualifying time, Bol now has a full four days to reset ahead of the final, where he will be among the gold-medal favourites.
“I rolled my ankle yesterday and I was limping on the way back and today I’m perfectly fine, so it’s a massive thanks to the medical team at Athletics Australia,” said Bol, who was fourth at the Tokyo Olympics.
“I wasn’t playing basketball, I promise.
“I just rolled it on the curb at the track. That’s the first time ever.”
After finishing a disappointing seventh in the final at the recent world championships in Eugene, Bol was thrilled to get the tactics just right in his Birmingham heat.
“I always say it’s a strange race, the 800, because it’s so unpredictable,” he said.
“You can have a game plan but it’s out the window by the time you start the race.
“You’ve almost just got to get the automatic [qualifier]cover the moves and just run, just like you do at training.”
Getting the chance to ease up well before the finish line was also a major bonus.
“To be honest that did feel easy and I enjoyed that a lot,” Bol said.
“It’s awesome to come back from worlds where it was a disappointing final, come back here, be in amazing shape and be able to switch off like that.”
Fellow Australian and 2021 NCAA 800m champion Charlie Hunter was eliminated after finishing fifth in the opening heat in 1:49.94.
Cyclist Matt Walls escaped serious injury after crashing into the crowd at the London velodrome.
Walls, 24, flew over the barriers and into spectators in the front row – leaving one fan bleeding, The Sun reports.
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The accident, which involved multiple riders, occurred during the final lap of the Commonwealth Games men’s 15km scratch race qualifying and medical teams immediately rushed to the scene.
Walls ended up bloody and required stitches on his head after being rushed to hospital.
But the Olympic omnium champion was in good spirits and managed a big smile while he was in the treatment room.
Walls goes into the crowd: John Walton/PA WireSource: SuppliedMatt Walls shows off scars from crashSource: Supplied
“Thank you everyone for the messages and support!” Walls tweeted.
“I’ve somehow come away with no serious injuries just a few stitches and pretty banged up.
“I really hope everyone else involved is ok including the spectators that may have been injured.’
Two other riders – Canadian Derek Gee and Matt Bostock of the Isle of Man – were also taken to hospital while two spectators were treated on scene.
Neither of Walsh’s parents were in attendance for the race, with his father Larry revealing his wife Lorraine ran to the velodrome after the accident.
Matt treated by medical staff. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP)Source: AFP
“I was watching the Games live on TV and Lorraine ran from hotel to velodrome after hearing about the crash,” he said.
“It was a horrible time but after 45 minutes, we heard Matt was conscious and Lorraine arrived at the velodrome and we could all relax.
“Lorraine and Matt’s girlfriend Fleur visited him in hospital and he was in good shape and got checked out in the evening back to the hotel.”
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission.
The Paris Olympics beckon for Australian weightlifting star Eileen Cikamatana, who has made Commonwealth Games history with a record-breaking performance.
Key points:
Cikamatana won the 90kg class while representing Fiji on the Gold Coast
Her second lift of 137kg in Birmingham won the gold, and she capped her win with a third lift of 145kg
Cikamatana is recovering from a 26cm tear in her thigh
Cikamatana won Australia’s first weightlifting gold at the Birmingham Games with lifts in the 87kg category that put her on a different level to the competition.
More significantly, she is now the first woman to win Commonwealth Games gold for two countries, having won the 90kg class on the Gold Coast for Fiji.
“I don’t know how to describe it… I can’t fit it into words,” Cikamatana said of her achievement.
“I think it’s floating somewhere. I will need to grab it then I will let you know.”
Cikamatana won Australia’s first weightlifting gold at the Birmingham Games.(Getty Images: Dean Mouhtaropoulos)
Soon after the Gold Coast Games, Cikamatana switched to Australia after a dispute with Fiji’s weightlifting governing body over where she should train.
She was unable to compete at the Tokyo Olympics because she was still ineligible, but Cikamatana showcased her vast talent in Birmingham.
Cikamatana set the Games record in the category with her snatch lift of 110kg.
She then took the overall lead with her first clean and jerk attempt of 129kg.
Cikamatana’s second lift of 137kg won the gold medal, and also set the clean and jerk and overall Games records.
She capped her outstanding win with a third lift of 145kg, giving the Australian a total of 255kg.
Eileen Cikamatana lifted a total of 255kg.(Getty Images: Dean Mouhtaropoulos)
Canadian Kristel Ngarlem won silver with 236kg and Nigerian Mary Osojo took bronze with her total of 225kg.
The achievements have come as Cikamatana recovers from a 26cm tear in her thigh last year — an injury so painful she cannot squat.
“They’re personal bests after the injury, I could say,” she said of the Games lifts.
“I’ve lifted 156 jerk and 121 snatch, yeah… here comes Paris, 2024. Here we go.”
Cikamatana was in tears at the medal ceremony and she paid tribute to coach Paul Coffa and his wife Lilly.
“I was emotional because I [am] really appreciative of getting to represent the green and gold and standing on the podium, listening to the anthem,” she said.
“Representing the green and gold is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it’s a dream come true.
“They (the Coffas) made all these impossible dreams come true.”
Cikamatana was asked if her achievements were worth all the grief from the split with Fiji.
“One million times, [the switch] it’s worth it,” she said.
“It’s something I never dreamed of getting.”
On Monday, fellow Australians Kyle Bruce and Sarah Cochrane won weightlifting silver.
And earlier on Tuesday, compatriot Ebony Gorincu finished sixth in the 76kg class and Ridge Barredo overcame a hip injury to finish fifth in the men’s 96kg category.
Cody Simpson’s mum Angie and sister Alli have weighed in on the singer-turned-swimmer’s love triangle with Emma McKeon and Kyle Chalmers.
Appearing on Sunrise live from the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Angie and Allie told hosts David Koch and Nat Barr that the former singer’s background in the spotlight — particularly his relationship with Miley Cryus — made him uniquely qualified to handle his private life making global headlines.
Cody Simpson and Emma McKeon went Insta official in July. Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
“I think he has been lucky because he has had so much history with press and media before, performing on stage for thousands of people,” Angie said.
“So I think the pressures of what he has dealt with in camp and at the Commonwealth Games has been pretty easy for him.
“It has given him an advantage to deal with a lot of those stresses and not let that stuff bother him.”
Alli added: “I think he’s used to it, growing up from a very young age in the entertainment world a lot of this stuff is what comes with it, the public eye and the public world.”
Rumors of a supposed rift between Chalmers and Simpson have dominated media coverage of the Australian team’s success at the Commonwealth Games after news Simpson was dating Charlmers’ former flame and fellow swimmer McKeon.
Cody Simpson and Miley Cyrus split in 2020. Credit: Instagram / Cody Simpson/Instagram / Cody Simpson
Cody was with Cyrus for about 10 months before moving to Australia from LA to focus on swimming.
His mum said the career change came as a shock and she did “everything I could to discourage” Cody from taking up swimming.
“I feel like a bad mum,” she admitted on Sunrise.
“I tried to do everything I could to discourage him. Being a former swimmer myself I went, ‘are you kidding, you’re singing, traveling the world parting till late why would you go back to a black line, the solitude of the sport when you’ve got this lifestyle of traveling and everything ?’
“I just didn’t think he could transition from so manly years of that…but he proved me wrong and once he lived with me he wanted to do it I was 100 per cent behind him.”
Australia is well ahead in the medal tally on day five of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
It was another strong day of competition, with Australia winning 35 medals across multiple events. Here is the medal tally for Australia’s athletes so far:
Gold: 42
Silver: 32
Bronze: 32
Total: 106
You can check out how the latest batch of medals were won in our Commonwealth Games blog, or have a look at the medal winners and the top 10 medal standings by country below:
Day five:
Gold:
Kaylee McKeown, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Matthew Temple and Emma McKeon, swimming, mixed 4X100 medley
Emma McKeon extended her lead as the all-time individual gold medal record holder in another monster day of gold medal brilliance from Australia at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Australia is now 11 medals clear at the top of the overall standings with 11 more gold, plus 12 silver and 12 bronze.
England still sits second after its athletes also had a huge day, bringing home 10 gold.
McKeon’s 13th Games gold when she finished off the last leg of the 400m mixed medley relay to win in style alongside Kaylee McKeown, Matthew Temple and Zac Stubblety-Cook.
But the superstar was upstaged in a massive 100m freestyle upset when teenager and fellow Aussie Molly O’Callaghan stormed home to win gold. Shayna Jack took the silver medal, with McKeon relegated to third, completing an all-Aussie clean sweep of the podium.
Elsewhere in the pool, Ariarne Titmus fought off a strong challenge from Australian teammate Kiah Melverton to win the 800m freestyle final, and Lani Pallister rounded out the top three to make it a second clean sweep of medals for Australia in the pool.
Col Pearce was also dominant in the pool, taking gold in the men’s 100m S10 butterfly.
Athletics got underway for the Games, and Nina Kennedy backed up her World Championships gold medal with Commonwealth gold.
Australia also claimed two gold medals in judo and one in gymnastics, weightlifting, and wheelchair basketball.
Australia is still in control of the medal tally. Credit: 7Sport
