Wood and Capewell boost Loughborough’s medals haul
LOUGHBOROUGH pair Abbie Wood and Sophie Capewell have both added to their Commonwealth Games medal collection in Birmingham.
Cyclist Capewell continued her fine form on the track to secure a superb silver medal in the women’s keirin at Lee Valley VeloPark.
The 23-year-old Loughborough University student followed up her bronze medal the previous day by going one better to take second place behind New Zealander Ellesse Andrews.
In the pool, Loughborough University graduate Abbie Wood clinched an impressive bronze in the women’s 200m individual medley to claim her fourth medal of the Games.
Wood, who had already claimed podium places in the mixed 4x100m relay, women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, and women’s 4x200m freestyle relay, produced another strong swim to touch the wall in third behind Canada’s Summer McIntosh and New Zealand’s Kaylee McKeown.
Cyclist Capewell, 23, said: “I am super proud of how I rode…every day has been getting harder and harder to bring yourself up for each race.
“Today I took it one race at a time, I am really happy with how I executed the final.
“I am a bit gutted I didn’t come round Ellesse [Andrews] at the end.
“I know what I need to do next time. I mean she is bloody fantastic. I am really proud of myself.
“I think I have got better as it has gone on a little bit…
“I have a lot to come away and be proud of these championships. It has not been a bad first Commonwealth Games.”
Swimmer Wood, 23, said: “I feel such a weight lifted off my shoulders.
“After the season I’ve had, I’m really happy with that and it’s a sigh of relief.
“I didn’t feel pressure from anyone intentionally, but I had my family here…
“It’s a season’s best, I couldn’t ask for any more after such a hard cycle post-Olympics.
“Fourth there hit me so to get it together for this week, I’m really happy.
“It was pretty much go-go-go after the Olympics so I’m definitely having a nice break after this, celebrating with my family.”
Meanwhile, Loughborough University alumnus Joe Litchfield and Loughborough College learner Jacob Whittle formed part of Team England’s men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team that won silver in the final race of the night.