Overjoyed parents see Barber walk her way to silver medal

Alana Barber’s silver medal in the 20km race walk fulfilled a lifelong dream; the achievement all the more special for the presence of her mother and father, the latter leaving New Zealand for the first time in 45 years to witness the moment.

In brutally punishing 27C heat along Currumbin Beachfront, Barber displayed immense spirit.

Her pained grimace depicted constant agony from the halfway mark but she was never going to let a medal slip. Cramping for the final 5km, she toughed it out and at least savoured the home straight after grabbing a New Zealand flag from her parents.

Given Barber has never won an international race, finishing 18th at the 2015 world championships and 35th at the Rio Olympics, Commonwealth Games silver represents a surprise result from the 30-year-old Aucklander who was overwhelmed by emotion.

Race walking for the past eight years, Barber strived for this feat since learning mother Shirley Somervell finished eighth in the 1974 Commonwealth Games 800m and also ran in the 4x400m relay.

“That’s the best part about this that both my parents are here,” a jubilant Barber said. “It’s just a quick trip from New Zealand but the fact my dad came is extra special because he hasn’t left New Zealand since 1973 because he hates travelling, so for him to sacrifice his own travel anxiety to come here and watch me race makes it even more special.

“I’ve watched older New Zealanders do really well at the Commonwealth Games ever since I was little, so I think I can say I’ve waited for this my whole life.”

Barber’s parents couldn’t sleep the night before the race, such was their collective anxiety.

“I’m very pleased I made the trip. I had to get a new passport — they’d never seen a passport so old,” said Barber’s proud father, David. “It’s a fantastic day. All our dreams have come true. We went every lap with her. It’s unfinished business because Shirley didn’t quite medal in 1974.”

Barber prepared for the sweltering conditions. She trained in hot climates, lapped up the Auckland humidity, and wore an ice vest before the race to keep down her temperature. At the start line, she visibly shivered — the tactic allowing her to stay cool until heat and fatigue hit all at once.

With a medal in reach, she kept telling herself “just keep going”.

“It was relief,” Barber said of her immediate emotions. “I’m glad I didn’t have anyone close by because I was really cramping up.

“The last 5km, my legs had gone, so I just needed to get to the finish line. It was really tough, especially the last 5km, you really felt that heat.”

Barber looked determined from the outset, setting the early pace to lead at the 5km mark.

Australian duo Jemima Montag and Claire Tallent eventually pulled away, and it seemed Barber would hold off Bethan Davies of Wales to claim bronze.

But Tallent, leading the race with 2km remaining, received her third red flag for lifting both feet at the same time and was disqualified. Tallent collapsed to the ground, distraught.

For Barber, that meant promotion to silver, finishing 1m 28s behind Montag.

In the men’s 20km race, Wellington’s Quentin Rew needed medical assistance as he crossed the line in fifth.

“I had a few gnarly cramps over the finish line, so I’ll get into an ice bath and try and recover,” Rew said.

“I wanted a medal, so I had to be aggressive. The first five and 10km, I have never been through that fast in a 20km before, and I was still a bit off the pace.”

The fact my dad came is extra special because he hasn’t left New Zealand since 1973 . Alana Barber