‘All over the place’ - Yohan Blake blames stumble for 100m shock
Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake stumbled out of the blocks and said he was “all over the place” in coming third as South Africa’s Akani Simbine won a stunning 100m gold at the Commonwealth Games on Monday.
Simbine took a surprise victory in 10.03sec, leading a South African one-two on Australia’s Gold Coast as Henricho Bruintjies took silver in 10.17.
Blake, who had been desperate to shine after the retirement of Usain Bolt, came third in 10.19 and appeared far from his fluent best from start to finish.
It was the biggest title yet and a major scalp for Simbine, 24, who finished fifth and a place behind Blake in the 2016 Rio Olympics 100m final.
“It’s my first international title and for me it’s a milestone, a stepping stone towards the world championships, and the Olympics and more competitions and more international competitions,” said Simbine, adding he needed to call his mother watching back home in South Africa.
“I wasn’t focused on him (Blake). I literally just focused on myself and making sure I get out fast and get to the 50m as quick as I can.”
Blake, 28, the joint second-fastest man of all time after fellow Jamaican Bolt, who retired last summer, had jokingly been told by his former teammate not to return home if he failed to win gold.
“I’m not worried,” said Blake of Bolt’s likely disappointment, in what was the first major championship since the sprint legend called time on his career.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye won the women’s 100m in 11.14, ahead of Christania Williams in 11.21 and her fellow Jamaican Gayon Evans, who clocked 11.22.
Mixed day for India
It was a mixed day for India in the athletics events as high jumper Tejaswin Shankar and sprinter Muhammed Anas entered the finals, while Hima Das advanced to the semi-finals. There were disappointments too, with Suriya Loganathan and shotputter Tejinder Pal Singh failing to make their mark Monday.
Shankar entered the final of the men’s high jump event with a best attempt of 2.21 metres, thus meeting the qualifying standard of 2.27m. He finished the qualification stage at the joint fifth spot. Jamal Wilson of the Bahamas topped the qualification stage.
Sprinter Anas entered the final of the men’s 400 metre event, finishing first in the semi-final, heat 3, clocking 45.44 sec with a reaction time of 0.132 ahead of Jamaica’s Rusheen Mcdonald. Mcdonald finished 45.77 with a reaction time of 0.180.