‘Overwhelmed’ Kerr stoked to raise the bar
Hamish Kerr was preparing to have to make a clutch jump to keep his gold medal dream alive, expecting Australian Brandon Starc to live up to his reputation as a ‘‘prolific third attempter’’.
Only the brother of Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc knocked the 2.28m high bar off in front of 32,000 expectant fans at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.
Commonwealth Games gold was Kerr’s, the first high jump medal won by a Kiwi male in Games history. Tania Murray won the women’s event in Auckland in 1990
As the realisation he’d won gold smacked him in the face, he walked across the track and embraced defending champion Starc.
‘‘I got a bit overwhelmed, and my last [jump] was terrible as well, but that’s OK,’’ Kerr said of his failed third attempt at 2.28m. It didn’t matter.
Gold was his on countback, after Starc had failed to clear 2.15m, 2.19m and 2.22m first up – something Christchurch-based Kerr did with ease. He also soared over 2.25m first pop.
‘‘It’s awesome, I’m just so stoked. I don’t really have the words. I came in here with some good form in my legs and I just had to trust it,’’ he said, New Zealand flag draped over his shoulders.
Less than a month after failing to make the world championships final, Kerr cut a relaxed figure throughout the more than two-hour competition.
He passed at 2.05m and 2.10m, opting to spend much of the first 60-odd minutes sitting or lying on the deck.
Occasionally, he got up and skipped down the track to make sure his legs were ready to fire. On other occasions, he got up and shared a few words with Starc.
Kerr barely glanced at the competition. But he did find time to work on his golf swing [air golf style].
‘‘Me and [shot putter] Tom Walsh are going to Scotland after this, I’ve got to keep fresh, we’ve got about 10 days of hitting under our belts. I haven’t swung a club for a while, but it’s going to be good,’’ Kerr said.
Truth is, as much as Kerr lives and breathes high jump, there is a part of it he can’t stand – waiting for something to happen.
‘‘It’s hard. I’m a massive fan of athletics, I grew up watching the sport. It’s pretty hard not to watch the high jump because I love high jump. But at the same time I’ve got to focus on me.
‘‘I just look into the crowd, see what people are wearing, watch some of the races go round, and then when they call my name I’m up and at it.’’
Kerr’s gold was one of two Kiwi medals on the night – the other won at the opposite end of the venue by shot putter Maadi Wesche.
Having admitted to keeping a close eye on Kerr’s quest for gold, she won bronze with an 18.84m put in her first Games. Canadian Sarah Mitton (19.03m) and Jamaican Danniel Thomas-Dodd (18.98m) won gold and silver, respectively.
‘‘Ice cream is usually the go-to to celebrate,’’ she said.
‘‘Bronze isn’t too bad on your first Comm Games.’’