Commonwealth Games

Brilliant Gemili stoops for 100m silver

ESPN staff

July 28, 2014

Adam Gemili (far left) stoops to claim Commonwealth silver © Getty Images

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England's Adam Gemili is a Commonwealth Games silver medallist after a brilliant performance earned him second place in the final of the men's 100 metres in Glasgow.

Usain Bolt may not have been competing at Hampden Park but he still had a hand in Jamaica claiming gold as his training partner Kemar Bailey-Cole clocked a seasonal best of 10 seconds dead to cross the line first, with Gemili stooping low for second in a time of 10.08 seconds. Nickel Ashmeade finished third for bronze.

Gemili told BBC Sport: "This is my first senior medal. I'm speechless. There's so much preparation that goes into running 10 seconds - my team put a lot of work in behind the scenes. I can't believe it, this is my first time representing England and I'm so happy.

"This is something I'm never going to forget. It's not about times today, it's positions because the times will come. Medals are what count and this is a stepping stone now for the Europeans, Worlds and then Rio in 2016."

Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown finished second in the women's 100m final as Blessing Okagbare blitzed the field with a new Games record time of 10.85 seconds to clinch gold.

England's Asha Phillip finished fourth with a personal best time of 11.18 seconds and said: "Fourth is always the first loser as people say, but I'm so proud of myself. I wanted a medal but it's my first Commonwealth Games and I've loved the experience. I am going to take it on the chin and there's more to come from me."

It was another successful night in the swimming pool for the Home Nations as Jazz Carlin became the first Welsh woman in 40 years to claim a Commonwealth gold medal. Carlin eased to victory in the 800m freestyle.

Carlin told the BBC: "I can't believe it, I really can't. Seeing the Welsh flag I'm getting emotional now. I knew it was going to be a tough race tonight. It was a strong field.

"I put everything into my training this year. The support has been overwhelming and obviously I'm just so glad."

England's Sarah Taylor won 100m breaststroke gold while compatriot Oliver Hynd took gold in the Parasport 200m individual medley SM8 final. Aimee Willmott finished second for silver in the women's 200m butterfly.

Earlier, Libby Clegg won Scotland's first gold in the athletics as she finished top in the Para-sport T11/12 100m with a time of 12.20 seconds and Wales' Rhys Jones claimed bronze in the Para-sport T37 men's100m.

In the women's hammer, England's Sophie Hitchon had to settle for the bronze medal: "The first few rounds were a little jerky and I only got it together later on. That is what happens sometimes. I am amazingly pleased with a medal, but I just always want the very best as an athlete."