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Commonwealth Games day eight on the Gold Coast

BRUCE McAvaney was gobsmacked after a sprint star was stripped of his gold medal halfway through his lap of honour.

James Matthey and James McKern
15 min read
April 13, 2018 - 10:27AM
The moment Zharnel Hughes learnt he was losing his gold medal.
The moment Zharnel Hughes learnt he was losing his gold medal.

Live: Commonwealth Games day eight

Australia took its haul to 63 golds and 155 medals overall on day eight of the Commonwealth Games.

12am

‘Disbelief’ over race finish

The Commonwealth Games men’s 200m final ended in controversy with England’s Zharnel Hughes stripped of his gold medal for impeding runner-up Jereem Richards.

The English camp lodged an appeal against the disqualification, which saw the Trinidad and Tobago runner promoted to the gold medal position, but it was rejected late on Thursday night.

Both men clocked 20.12 seconds but Hughes was originally declared the winner in a photo finish.

However, officials disqualified the Englishman soon after, ruling he impeded Richards in the home straight as the pair made contact in the sprint for the line.

It appeared Hughes deliberately flung his arm into Richards after the pair made accidental contact as a result of the frontrunner staying on the inside of his lane.

Zharnel Hughes of England (left) and Jareem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago (right) during the Men's 200m Final.
Zharnel Hughes of England (left) and Jareem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago (right) during the Men's 200m Final.

The crazy finish only happened after Hughes slowed considerably in the final metres with some commentators declaring he appeared to think he was safely home.

Replays showed Hughes clearly crossed into Richard’s lane, forcing his rival to change his line.

There was also arm contact between the two as Richards made a desperate late lunge 10m before the line.

“I was coming up on him strongly and the hit threw me off my rhythm,” Richards said.

“I had to slow down.”

Channel 7’s Bruce McAvaney was stunned by the incident.

“It’s unbelievably close, it is just crazy what happened in the last 10 meters,” McAvaney said.

“Not sure exactly how it played out, how does it finish? Wow, what a race.

“It was almost like they were going to fall over.

“I would be fascinated to see the front angle and I can only conclude they just collided. Actually when he crossed the line, Hughes grabbed his hand.”

English athletics champion Lord Sebastian Coe said it was obvious there would be a protest to Hughes’ run after watching the front-on angle.

There was no need for a protest with officials taking the decision to disqualify Hughes several minutes after the event finished.

He had no idea, blindsides as he did a lap of honour with the English flag draped across his back.

“Hughes didn’t know and that is remarkable,” McAvaney said.

“On the board, he has done a lap of honour and now there is disbelief for the young man. I am sure England will do everything they can do to get him reinstated.”

The photo below captured the star’s shattering moment.

This is the moment Zharnel Hughes learnt of his disqualification.
This is the moment Zharnel Hughes learnt of his disqualification.

Coe said there could be a technicality in the rule book which would allow England to protest the disqualification.

“I would be surprised if they did not appeal this,” he said.

“I am not on the jury. I have sat on juries of appeal for many years, but you are right, you can run on the line and you could be 3m ahead and run on the line and there is no material advantage, but if you do happen to impede or clash that will be the argument.

“The jury of appeal however has a problem because two or three of those members are actually conflicted because the places and the

decisions are concerning their own athletes. It may well be that they will have to chase them around at the moment.”

10.40pm

Wu scores gold with dramatic last dive

Melissa Wu took gold in the women’s 10m platform final in the most dramatic of circumstances.

She was second by some distance heading into the final round, but delivered a final dive score of 76.80 — her best of the final — to storm home to win by just 0.65 across the five rounds.

Wu’s massive last dive left Canada’s Meaghan Benfeito needing a big score in the final round — she fell just short with Wu taking gold 360.40 to 359.75.

9.45pm

Aussie champ defends title

Dani Stevens will be Commonwealth discuss champion for another four years after taking gold at Carrara Stadium.

Stevens completely dominated the field to deliver the four best throws of the event.

She won with a throw of 68.26m more than eight metres ahead of India’s Seemia Punia.

9.45pm

Bahama takes gold in women’s 200m

Bahama’s Shaunae Miller-Uibo fought off Jamaica’s sprint queens to take gold in the women’s 200m.

The 400m specialist set a new Games record with a time of 22.09 seconds – finishing just 0.09 seconds ahead of Jamaicas Shericka Jackson.

England’s Dina Asha-Smith took bronze.

9.20pm

Aussie reigns supreme in pole vault

Kurtis Marschall has soared high into the night sky and claimed an emphatic gold medal for the Aussies after clearing 5.7m on his final attempt.

Marschall will now have three more attempts where he can go after Steve Hooker’s Commonwealth record of 5.8m.

9.15pm

Aussies fall short in beach volleyball gold

Aussies Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy fell agonisingly short of gold in the women’s beach volleyball final, falling to Canada in two dramatically tight sets.

Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Parades took gold 21-19, 22-20, relegating the Australian pair to silver.

Canada took the first set 21-19, picking of the last three points of the set.

They then raced out to a 5-1 lead early in the second set. The Aussies fought back to take the lead 15-13 late in the second set, forcing Canada to call a time out.

Australia had a set-point at 20-19, but couldn’t convert.

Canada had the class and cool heads to prevail in the big moments.

4pm

Jenneke impresses on road to redemption

There were suggestions Michelle Jenneke would ditch the pre-race jiggle that’s seen her become a worldwide sensation but she was at her enthusiastic best as she lined up for her heat of the women’s 100m hurdles.

She busted that myth by bouncing away, blowing a kiss to the camera, waving to the crowd and revving them up, encouraging everyone in the stands to make some noise.

When the gun went off it was all business and Jenneke ran a season-best time of 12.99 seconds to qualify for the final. It was impressive given it’s been roughly a year since the 24-year-old has broken the 13-second barrier.

“That is the best we have seen her run for a fair while,” Channel 7’s Bruce McAvaney said.

The first three finishers automatically progress and although Jenneke just missed out by coming fourth, her time will likely still be good enough to see her advance and keep her medal hopes alive.

“I knew I was going to have to run fast today, I knew that I had the fast heat,” Jenneke told Channel 7. “I gave it my all.

“I definitely had more to give in that last little bit, I just controlled the race.

“I was pretty happy with that run but there’s definitely more for the final.”

Jenneke was slammed by Australia’s athletics coach and the public after a disappointing performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics that saw her finish sixth in her only heat of the meet, but she’s full of confidence and ready to banish those demons on the Gold Coast.

“I think that’s the fastest I’ve run at a major championships as well so really happy to be back here running fast,” she said.

“I feel I’m in the shape of my life so I’m going to be pushing for a PB tomorrow.”

Brianna Beahan from Perth also qualified for the final with a time of 13.02 seconds in the opening heat of the event.

8.30pm

Lawn bowls dream run continues

The Jackaroos’ dream run at the Commonwealth Games lawn bowls has continued after Australia defeated Scotland in the women’s triples gold medal match.

Rebecca van Asch, Natasha Scott and Carla Krizanic won 21-12 on Thursday night, having already claimed gold as part of the women’s fours on Monday.

The trio built a 9-1 lead after just five ends before Scotland rallied in another fluctuating contest full of big moments at Broadbeach Bowls Club.

— AAP

5.40pm

Aussies stun Canada for gold

No team had taken a set off of team Canada in the beach volleyball all throughout the Commonwealth Games.

Australia not only managed to steal the opening set 21-19, they overcame the favourites in a tense third set to take home the gold.

After Canada fough back to level the game at one-set all with a 21-18 second set, they looked set to capture the gold medal after showing their prowess in the penultimate set.

Canada held match point but thankfully the serve went long and handed the opportunity back to the Aussies, who gladly obliged.

The Aussies served with the gold on the line, leading 17-16 and a Canada smash into the net handed the victory to the Aussies as their opponents slumped to the sand.

2.50pm

Thrilling finish between bitter Kiwis

In an eerily similar situation to what happened in Glasgow four years ago, New Zealand riders Samuel Gaze and Anton Cooper finished first and second in the men’s cross country mountain bike event but the race wasn’t without controversy.

The pair appeared to clash heading into the final straight, with Gaze’s arm looking like it made contact with Cooper as they tussled for front position.

Last Commonwealth Games only three seconds separated the pair — but on that occasion Cooper won gold. After today, neither man will likely be on the other’s Christmas card list.

“No big embracing hugs between the Kiwis, no love lost even though they are one and two,” Channel 7 commentator Basil Zempilas said. “There was no love lost whatsoever.

“I wonder if we have not heard the end of this yet. The sprint to the finish was pretty clean but it was that contact about 400m from the end.”

Read more: ‘Insane’ drama in loveless civil war

2.35pm

More gold for Aussies

Australia defeated New Zealand to claim gold in the B6/B7/B8 lawn bowls event.

Ken Hanson ensured the home team would stand on the top step of the podium when his final bowl gave Australia the lead.

2.30pm

Team backs ‘innocent victim’

Northern Ireland is standing by Sean McComb (L).
Northern Ireland is standing by Sean McComb (L).

Northern Ireland has given its full backing to “innocent victim” Sean McComb after the Commonwealth Games boxer was fined over a disturbance at a nightclub on Australia’s Gold Coast.

The light-welterweight, 25, was fined by police following an incident at Surfers Paradise area early on Tuesday morning. His Games had ended on Sunday when he was defeated by England’s Luke McCormack.

Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council (NICGC) managers said they had studied CCTV footage “that raises concerns as to the accuracy of the initial information” and had asked Queensland police to review their decision.

“The NICGC has reviewed the latest evidence and determined that team sanctions will not be taken against Sean in relation to this incident and we can confirm that he remains an integral member of the boxing squad and the wider team,” said the statement.

“In our opinion he is an innocent victim in this matter and he retains the full support of the NICGC.”

The NICGC is seeking legal advice, it said.

— AFP

1.30pm

Poms dominate on two wheels

England dominated the women’s cross country mountain bike event as Annie Last won gold and Evie Richards picked up silver.

Haley Smith from Canada rolled in third to claim bronze.

The corresponding men’s event is now underway.

In badminton, Indian HS Prannoy overcame Australia’s Anthony Joe 21-18, 21-11 in the men’s singles to progress to the quarter-finals.

1pm

Track stars impress but fall just short

Teenager Keely Small delivered the best performance of her career.
Teenager Keely Small delivered the best performance of her career.

Aussie divers Matthew Carter and James Connor have qualified for the men’s 3m springboard final, but rookie Kurtis Mathews has missed out.

On the track, 16-year-old Keely Small pulled out a personal best in the women’s 800m. She finished sixth with a time of 2:00.81 as she ran alongside South African speedster Caster Semenya, setting a national U/17 record in the process.

“It was such a great opportunity,” Small told Channel 7. “The crowd lifted me in the last 200m. It was amazing.

“I am all of for the experience, to get a personal best against the world’s best, it’s amazing.”

Georgia Griffith also racked up a PB, running 2:00.73 in a nailbiting race. She stormed home down the outside in a desperate bid to finish in the top-two, which would have guaranteed her campaign would continue, but she just missed out and finished third.

Fellow Aussie Brittany McGowan also had an impressive race, making up plenty of ground on the final straight to finish fourth.

11.15am

Aussies guilty of doping

Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) CEO David Sharpe today confirmed three Australian athletes were banned from the Commonwealth Games after being found to have broken the rules during pre-event testing.

Sharpe said there have been no positive in-competition drug tests on the Gold Coast as yet.

Anti-doping officials conducted more than 3000 tests ahead of the Commonwealth Games in an effort to weed out athletes who might be cheating well ahead of their competitions.

Sharpe said 2600 tests were conducted on Australian athletes and 500 more on international athletes, some of whom were only at the qualifying stage for the April 4-15 games on the Gold Coast.

Read More: Aussie stars busted for doping

10.10am

Jenneke’s moment of truth

Will Michelle Jenneke pull out the jiggle?
Will Michelle Jenneke pull out the jiggle?

Michelle Jenneke will be out for redemption in the women’s 100m hurdles today after her Olympic campaign two years ago failed to live up to the hype.

The Aussie finished sixth in her heat in Rio, bringing her competition to a disappointing end. Australian athletics coach Craig Hilliard criticised her for arriving out of shape and being distracted by other commercial responsibilities while the Aussie public also hammered her for a lacklustre showing.

Jenneke told news.com.au last month there were factors behind the scenes that contributed to her disappointing heat in Rio that not many people knew about, suggesting some of the criticism towards her wasn’t warranted.

She also said the Australian public often has unrealistic expectations on the country’s athletes and this morning she’ll be out to win over any of the doubters in her first outing on the track at the Gold Coast Games.

Known for her pre-race dance that’s earned her the nickname “Jiggling Jenneke”, former Aussie track star Tamsyn Lewis said on Channel 7 the 24-year-old was planning on ditching the famous move this time around — something which will likely disappoint fans on the Gold Coast.

By Jenneke can ensure her supporters keep the smiles on their faces by going at least one step further than she did in Rio.

“She said she was not going to do the dance,” Lewis said. “The crowd has come to see this. She is not in the shape of her life, but fingers crossed.”

9.45am

TV presenter’s fail, Starc’s shoes explained

A BBC presenter suffered a funny fail when he fell into a pool as he was interviewing members of the English swim team.

Mike Bushell missed a step and stumbled much deeper into the water than he was expecting as the athletes around him cracked up laughing.

From the pool to the track and Aussie Brandon Starc’s clothes courted attention as he won gold in the men’s high jump on Wednesday night.

Starc — the brother of Australian cricketer Mitchell — wore odd coloured shoes during competition, but when pressed on whether there was any significance on the fashion choice, insisted there was no method to the madness.

“That’s just me,” Starc said on Sunrise. “That’s just me being weird.”

9.30am

Former Games star charged

Former heavyweight boxer Stephen Lavelle was arrested on the Gold Coast for an alleged assault while out partying on the Gold Coast in the early hours of Thursday morning, Channel 7 reports.

The network identified the Scottish bronze medallist from the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the man police have charged following an incident inside a nightclub at approximately 3am on Thursday.

According to Queensland Police the 27-year-old and two 18-year-olds — a man and woman — were involved in an altercation on the dancefloor of the club. Police allege the woman was punched in the face and a glass was thrown at the teenage male, causing injuries after hitting him in the face.

“Police will allege the incident rapidly escalated into a physical confrontation during which time the woman was punched in the face and a glass thrown at the 18-year-old man, striking him in the face and causing a significant laceration,” a police statement read.

Lavelle has been charged with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of common assault.

9.15am

Boxer’s furious tirade

A furious losing boxer from Zambia reeled off an extraordinary succession of expletives and alleged that he was cheated out of victory at the Commonwealth Games on Wednesday.

Mbachi Kaonga insisted he had beaten home boxer Clay Waterman of Australia in their light-heavyweight quarter-final on the Gold Coast.

But ringside judges awarded the decision to Waterman on a 4-1 points decision, infuriating Kaonga and the red mist quickly descended.

As Waterman was doing an interview off to the side of the ring, Kaonga bumped into him and then swore into the camera, the Australian boxer and local officials said.

The 23-year-old Kaonga then raged into the media interview zone and launched into an expletive-filled rant.

“I f***ing won that fight. This is bulls***,” Kaonga said. “They are killing amateur boxing.

“Just because ... it is his home ground, you give him the f***ing fight when he did not (win) the fight.

“They are killing the sport.”

Waterman couldn’t see where Kaonga was coming from.

“I gave him a little bit and told him to shut up,” Waterman said with a laugh. “He pretty much ran away the whole fight. I felt like I was in control. Oh well, each to their own.”

— AFP

9am

Mixed fortunes for Aussie divers

James Connor (L), Jack Laugher and James Heatly (R) were among the medals.
James Connor (L), Jack Laugher and James Heatly (R) were among the medals.

England’s Jack Laugher gave a dominant performance to retain his Commonwealth Games one-metre springboard title on the Gold Coast on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, Olympic silver medallists Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoong led Malaysia to three medals on the opening day of the diving with victory in the 10-metre synchro.

The 23-year-old Laugher, a Rio Olympic silver medallist on the three-metre board, led throughout the six rounds to tally 438.00 points and win gold with some ease.

Australia’s James Connor took silver with 412.45 points.

Scotland’s James Heatly finished with bronze on 399.25 points to become his country’s first Commonwealth diving medallist since his late grandfather Peter Heatly won gold at the 1958 Cardiff Games.

“It was difficult to come here as the defending champion,” said Laugher. “I really knuckled down, got focused — everything went fantastically and I am very proud of what I did.” Laugher’s top-scoring dives were 76.50 for an inward 2-1/2 somersaults and his lead-off back 2-1/2 somersaults dive which netted 75.00 from the judges.

“My entries were a little bit shaky,” said Laugher, who will bid for second gold medal in Thursday’s three-metre springboard.

“I put that down to a little bit of nerves, trying to defend the title — also being outdoors, all those different pressures. But I’m really happy with my overall performance.” It is Laugher’s third Commonwealth Games title since his debut at the age of 15 when he competed in Delhi in 2010.

Esther Qin and Georgia Sheehan had reason to smile.
Esther Qin and Georgia Sheehan had reason to smile.

Laugher went on to win two gold medals and a silver at Glasgow 2014 before joining forces with Chris Mears to win Britain’s first-ever Olympic diving gold medal in Rio where they won the three-metre synchro competition.

Pandelela and Cheong were clinical in winning the 10-metre synchro with 328.08 points from Canada’s Meaghan Benfeito and Caeli McKay with fellow Malaysians Mun Yee Leong and Nur Dhabitah Sabri taking the bronze.

Leong and Sabri also made the podium in the three-metre synchro springboard earlier on Wednesday.

Pandelela and Cheong led all five rounds and never wavered, posting scores of 70.20, 76.80 and 74.88 for their final three dives.

Esther Qin and Georgia Sheehan snatched gold in the women’s three-metre synchro after a fellow Aussie pair crashed from first place to last with a botched final dive.

Leaders Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith bombed out after a disastrous attempt at a forward 2-1/2 somersaults with two twists scuttled their medal hopes.

A tearful Keeney, who lost control of her dive in windy conditions at the outdoor pool, put a brave face on the mishap.

“It was all over the shop,” said the one-metre world champion. “Obviously I don’t think anyone can say they dived well, but we’ve come out the other end. It was a tough day.”

— AFP

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/commonwealth-games/live-commonwealth-games-day-eight-on-the-gold-coast/news-story/bf56edeb78b6e5507e349de437780b13