Lyle’s all smiles after sprinting to silver medal

Maria Lyle took silver at the Commonwealth Games in Australia last night in the T35 100 metres but once more the young Scot was left trailing by her chief rival.

Home favourite Isis Holt obliterated the field to take gold by over one-and-a-half seconds in a time of 13.58 secs, with the 18-yearold from Dunbar, just as at the 2016 Paralympics and last summer’s world championships, watching the Australian disappear out of reach.

“It wasn’t my best performance but winning a silver medal was amazing,” said Lyle, pictured, who has cerebral palsy.

“I don’t get the opportunity to wear the Scotland vest very often so to perform like that and run in front of a massive crowd was a massive experience. “

Allan Smith took fifth place in the high jump with a leading clearance of 2.27 metres as Australian Brandon Starc took a surprise gold, with the Scot satisfied to land a first qualifying mark for August’s Europeanchampionshipsin Berlin.

“I was nice and calm on the field,” he said. “Before the competition, I had just a chill list on Spotify. I got to the warm-up track an hour before but with 20 minutes to go, I put some happy music on and away we went.” There was only the sound of disappointment for Scotland’s Lennie Waite who was tenth and last by some distance in the 3,000m steeplechase with the Olympian, 32, now expected to retire. “Because qualification for this came off the back of worlds, and it was a given I’d do it, I thought I’d done enough to prepare but, without that desire in your gut, it’s hard,” she said.

“I’m a sports psychologist. I should be able to do this. But in the couple of weeks leading up to this, I felt myself wanting to stay home.”

Today, Eilidh Doyle will go for gold in the 400m hurdles while Jake Wightman races the 800m final.