Commonwealth Games: Smith storms into the final

Long-jumper Tyrone Smith is through to the finals at the Commonwealth Games after leaping to a season’s best in his qualifier yesterday.

Smith’s distance of 7.87 meters was good for seventh place out of 12 finalists, 18 centimeters behind leader and Olympic gold medallist Gregory Rutherford’s best effort of 8.05. The long jump finals will take place today at 4:45pm Bermuda time. Bermuda’s Arantxa King will also be competing today at 6:05am in the women’s long jump qualification.

Elsewhere, Aaron Evans and Shaquille Dill are both through to the semi-finals in the men’s 800m.

Evans came first in his heat with a time of 1:50.48, while Dill ran a time of 1:49.61. Both are part of the field of sixteen that will take part in two semi-finals today from 4:55pm Bermuda time. Dill is up first in a race that includes the legendary Kenyan David Rudisha, who is the current Olympic champion and holder of the 800m world record.

In squash action, Micah Franklin and Nick Kyme lost their double’s match-up against New Zealanders Campbell Grayson and Martin Knight. 

The Bermudian duo put up a fight but went down 2-0, losing 11-5 and 11-3.

Shianne Smith also started her eptathlon bid on Tuesday in the women’s shot put, coming ninth out of 12 with a personal best throw of 11.83 metres.

She also finished 11th overall in the high jump with a jump of 1.54m and third in her heat but ninth overall in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.95 seconds. In the 200m, Smith finished second in her heat and eighth overall with a time of 25.23 seconds.

Meanwhile, swimmer Roy-Allan Burch was knocked out of the Men’s 50m Freestyle in the semi-finals yesterday after coming fifth in his heat with a time of 22.71 seconds. 

The swimmer took to twitter, saying: “It was a class field and I believed I had what it took. Can’t be mad. No slouches in that final. Thanks for the support.”