Lake’s mixed emotions after failing to win medal
Morgan Lake was left with mixed emotions after finishing fourth in the women’s high jump at the Commonwealth Games.
Having missed the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, with a bout of COVID-19, the 25-year-old was keen to use that frustration as fuel in her bid for a medal in Birmingham.
However, although she cleared 1.92m in the final, a height that won her silver at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast four years ago, it wasn’t enough for a place on the podium at the Alexander Stadium.
Lake (Robbie Grabarz, WSEH AC) had the crowd on its feet as she cleared 1.92m at the second attempt, but she wasn’t able to better it, clipping the bar and knocking it off on her final attempt at 1.95m.
Afterwards she said: “It’s mixed emotions. I came here with the intention of winning a medal having won silver four years ago.
“I jumped the same height as last time but sadly out of the medals due to a few errors at the beginning. I was so nervous coming out here. When I flipped those nerves into using the crowd, it just lifted me so much. If I could go back in time, I’d do that from the beginning. I’m proud of how I jumped, it’s probably the best I’ve felt this season, so I’m excited for Europeans but gutted for today.”
She now switches attention to the European Championships in Munich, which start on August 15.
Also on Saturday, Twyford’s Zak Seddon competed in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.
Champion Abraham Kibiwot of Kenya set a rapid pace through the first 1,000m and clung on to win by a whisker from India’s Avinash Mukund Sable, with former Piggott School pupil Seddon (Bracknell AC) finishing further down the field in 8.48.11.