RAINY DAY BLUES

Jamaica failed to add to its medal tally on the second day of track and field at the Commonwealth Games at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday as, for the second straight staging, no Jamaican man contested the blue-ribbon 100m final. There were hopes of adding to the two gold medals won on Monday by high jumper Romaine Beckford and sprint hurdler Demario Prince, but the Jamaicans must wait at least until today if they are to win more medals. Lamara Distin failed to repeat her success in the women’s high jump, placing fourth, while Jodean Williams was fifth in the women’s 100m final.

Jamaicans are down to contest two finals today — the men’s long jump and women’s shot put — while the 200m events for both men and women will also start. The afternoon session was held in heavy rain, forcing officials to take the high jumpers off the field. When the competition resumed, Distin, who led in the first half of the event, could only manage 1.87m and missed out on a medal.

Australia’s Eleanor Patterson, the silver medallist in 2022, won the gold with a games record-equalling 1.96m, beating teammate Nicola Olyslagers, who cleared 1.93m, while Nigeria’s Temitope Simbiat Adeshina took the bronze. Jodean Williams was the only Jamaican who reported for the women’s 100m final, with Jonielle Williams, who had also qualified, withdrawing. Both had qualified on time after placing third in their respective semi-finals.

From left: Silver medallist India’s Sarvesh Anil Kushare, gold medallist Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford, and bronze medallist England’s Kimani Jack celebrate on the podium after receiving their medals for the men’s high jump final at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, on day five of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday. (Photo: AFP) Jodean ran 11.09 seconds (1.0m/s) as New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs won with an Oceania Area record 10.93 seconds, beating England’s Amy Hunt, who ran 10.98 seconds. Australia’s Torrie Lewis lowered her national record to 10.99 seconds after running 11.00 seconds in the semi-finals.

Both Ackeem Blake and Rohan Watson failed to get past the men’s semi-finals. Blake was third in the third semi-final in 10.06 seconds (1.1m/s), behind South Africa’s Gift Leotlela, who ran 10.02 seconds, and Australia’s Edward Nketia, who clocked a personal-best 10.03 seconds. In the first semi-final, Watson was sixth in 10.12 seconds (0.…