Teenage race walker Isaac Beacroft surged to victory in the men's 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, holding off Kenyan Stephen Kihu in a dramatic final lap. The 19-year-old Australian, who is the under-20 world record holder, accelerated with 300 metres remaining and managed to maintain his lead despite Kihu's late challenge.
Beacroft's Winning Strategy
Beacroft, who will compete at the world juniors in Oregon in just nine days, revealed his tactical approach after the race. "Probably the last 15 laps, I was just waiting for Kihu to go, but he never did, so I sat in, and eventually had to go," he told Channel Seven. "I went hard, about 95%, and then I knew he was going to come with me, but then I had another gear in there to really make it over."
His father and coach, David Beacroft, a former race walker, admitted to feeling anxious watching his son's celebration start early. "I just saw the guy make another surge and I'm like, 'Oh, don't do too much too soon', but he held him off. It was nice, it was good, really good," he said. The younger Beacroft joked about his father's reaction: "He's having a panic. He thought I was going to get chased down, and started celebrating too early. Rubbish."
Billings Ends 36-Year Medal Drought
Sarah Billings secured Australia's first women's 800m bronze in 36 years, finishing behind England's Georgia Hunter Bell and Kenya's Lilian Odira, who is the reigning world champion. Billings' tactical race saw her position well with a lap to go and push hard up the final straight, narrowly missing silver.
The bronze was a highlight on a day of mixed fortunes for Australian track and field athletes at Scotstoun Stadium.
Kennedy's Pole Vault Silver
Nina Kennedy, the Paris Olympic champion, had to settle for silver in the pole vault after clearing 4.65 metres but losing on a count-back to New Zealand's Eliza McCartney, who won her country's second track and field gold of the Games. Kennedy expressed her disappointment: "If you don't laugh, you'll cry. So I'm trying to put on a happy face right now, but look, I'm disappointed. I wanted the gold."
Sprinters Miss Out on Podium
Torrie Lewis, who finished third in the 100m final two days earlier, ran sixth in the 200m final, won by Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands. Lewis remained philosophical: "Not what I wanted for the 200. I made the final which was one of my goals so I'm still proud of that, and I look towards the relay."
In the men's 200m, Lachie Kennedy also finished sixth. The 100m silver medallist, who recently ran 9.85 seconds, faded after a strong start behind South African winner Sinesipho Dambile. Kennedy admitted, "I knew if I wanted to win, I was going to have to risk it. Look, I gave it a red hot crack. Didn't have enough juice in the tank. Credit to the winners. But yeah, I'm gassed."
Relay Hopes and Mile Showdown
Both Lewis and Kennedy will compete in the 4x100m relay on the final day, which also features the men's and women's mile races. The women's mile gives Jessica Hull a chance to avenge her fall in the controversial 1500m final at the national championships in April, where Claudia Hollingsworth was involved.
The men's mile is set to be one of the races of the Games, featuring Scottish duo Jake Wightman and Josh Kerr, who broke the world record last month, alongside reigning Commonwealth champion Olli Hoare and Australians Adam Spencer and Cam Myers. Wightman described Myers as "the future of the sport" this week.
