Maria Lyle (Jamie Bowie) claimed the only home nations medal on day four of the athletics with a superb silver in the women’s T35 100m.
Lyle was edged out of gold by 16-year-old Isis Holt, but held off the challenge of Brianna Coop to take second in 15.14. Daphne Schrager and Maria Verdeille (Catherine Walker) were fifth and sixth respectively, Schrager clocking 17.09 and Verdeille recording a personal best of 19.38.
After winning silver, Lyle said: “”It’s great, I knew Isis [Holt] would be ahead, I’m really pleased to win the silver but disappointed with my performance. I have been running better than that.
“I was really nervous coming into the competition, it was the biggest crowd I have raced against. I’m really pleased with the medal.”
There was more joy on both the track and in the field with seven home nations athletes making it into tomorrow’s finals.
Shara Proctor (Rana Reider) opened up the women’s long jump qualification with a season’s best 6.89m to secure automatic qualification for tomorrow’s final.
She will be joined by Jazmin Sawyers (Lance Brauman) and Lorraine Ugen (Shawn Jackson) after they recorded marks of 6.47m and 6.42m respectively. Wales Rebecca Chapman (Francis Baker) missed out, only managing a best of 6.02m.
On the track, Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie) and Bianca Williams (Lloyd Cowan) both qualified for tomorrow’s 200m final, Asher-Smith automatically in 22.44 and Williams as a fastest loser in 23.23.
Finette Agyapong (Coral Nourrice) finished third in her semi-final in 23.38, just missing out on pipping Williams to the fastest loser’s spot. Northern Ireland’s Amy Foster (David Reid), who was in the same heat as Asher-Smith, was eighth in 24.02.
Asher-Smith commented: “I was running well, obviously you want to go and win a semi-final and put down a good time, but I eased off. It’s easy to get into a battle, but I had this thought in the back of my mind that it’s only a semi-final.
“I want to come out here and do well, and also see the other girls do well – we’re a team. I’m looking forward to the final – I’ve qualified with a decent time and I didn’t feel too bad doing it, so I’ll take that.”
“I had a tough semi, but it is what it is. I just didn’t attack it on the home straight as much as I wanted to. Weirdly it felt like I fought a bit harder than yesterday, but considering the time was roughly the same as yesterday, perhaps I didn’t try as hard as I should have,” Williams added.
Zharnel Hughes (Patrick Dawson) cruised to victory in his semi-final in 20.37 to secure automatic qualification for the final and he was joined by Northern Ireland’s Leon Reid (James Hillier).
Reid produced an incredible last 70 metres to finish his semi-final second in 20.61 and secure his spot in the final. Richard Kilty came fifth in his semi in 20.67.
Hughes added: “Once I got out onto the home straight, I just tried not to use up too much energy. I felt good around the bend and felt as though I had done enough to ease off a bit. My body is in good shape and so is my mind; I’m just grateful to qualify for the final.
“I’m simply focusing on executing that final. I’m not thinking about any medals right now; if I don’t get my race correct, there won’t be anything so I only focus on my own race.”
Rosie Clarke (David Harmer) was within touching distance of a bronze medal in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase but faded in the closing stages, finishing fourth in 9:36.29, just outside her personal best. Iona Lake (Pauline Ash) & Lennie Waite (Jim Bevan) came home in eighth and tenth respectively in 9:58.92 & 10:21.72.
Scotland’s Allan Smith (Brian Roy) pulled out a season’s best 2.27m, good enough for fifth in the men’s high jump, with Chris Baker (Sharon Heveren) ninth with a best of 2.21m. David Smith (Paul Harrison) and Robbie Grabarz (Fuzz Caan) both cleared 2.18m but faltered at 2.21m to finish 10th and 11th respectively.
Josh Bain ended the men’s F38 shot put in fifth position with a best of 12.31m, while Dan Bramble (Frank Attoh) ended the men’s long jump fifth with 7.94m, Luvo Manyonga won the event with a Commonwealth record of 8.41m.