Commonwealth Games 2026, Evening Session, Monday July 27: A golden start for Team England

The first evening session of the Commonwealth Games featured 11 finals with 14 Team England athletes battling for the medals. And it didn’t take long; the very first final saw England grab gold and bronze to kick off what turned out to be a very memorable evening of athletics.

Monday evening’s highlights

• First athletics gold goes to England’s Sophie Hahn in the T37 100m
• Commonwealth Games record in the men’s hammer
• Rose Davies wins Australia’s first ever women’s 10,000m gold
• Games record in the men’s T38 100 metres

Men's 110m Hurdles Final

Thanks to a 13.20w in his qualifying round, England’s Sam Bennett (Steven Surety, Basildon) lined up in lane four as a potential favourite. But with Jamaica’s Demario Prince in the field to even suggest that is nothing short of incredible. Before the heats it had been about how much Prince would win by; for the final it was more of a case of if rather than when.

In the end, however, it all went to the form books. Bennett ran his best race ever with 13.30 while Prince was just 0.09sec shy of the CBP with 13.17. Bennett wasn’t quite as smooth as in the morning and hit five barriers but couldn’t respond to Prince’s better start. Tade Ojora (Joanna Hayes, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) was fifth in 13.82.

“That was awful. I know it was a PB, but I nearly fell over about four times,” said Bennett. “I came out here to win, but second place isn’t too bad so I’m happy.”

“I came into the race as the favourite,” said Prince. “I think I lived up to that.”

Women's T37/38 100m Final

The first gold medal of the athletics programme went to England’s Sophie Hahn, T38 (Joseph McDonnell, Charnwood). She’s had a far from perfect season suffering from a bout of shingles and also a hamstring issue, but she was never headed, crossing the line in 12.78. Behind her, 18-year-old Maddie Down, T38 (Mike Bennett, Halesowen) was rewarded with a bronze medal to cap the perfect start for England. She ran a personal best of 12.86, the exact same time as defending champion Welsh athlete Olivia Breen (Aston Moore, City of Portsmouth). And it was close: 12.852 for Breen to Down’s 12.854.

“I was nervous don’t get me wrong, but I knew I just had to run my own race and it would go well. I can’t thank everyone enough especially my coach Joseph,” Hahn said. “It’s been tough over the past few years, but you have to believe in yourself and enjoy it. But I can’t party too much as I have another race!”

“It’s kind of crazy to get a medal,” said Down. “That was one of the best races I’ve ever run. For me, it’s about trying not to be too nervous. That helps me produce the best race and it worked.”

Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final

Kenya produced yet another masterclass finishing one, two, three led by Edmund Serum who ran 8:18.23. That was the tenth Kenyan victory in the Commonwealth Games.

The England duo of Kristian Imroth (Shaftesbury Barnet) and Mark Pierce (Luke Gunn, BRAT)

Finished seventh in 8:38.12 and eighth, 8:42.39.

“Hearing Jerusalem playing was incredible as you were about to start. I’m thankful for the opportunity to run it, but I think it wasn’t my day today. Those guys showed why they’re world champions,” Pearce said. “I got my hair cut this morning so I hope the barber was proud.”

Women's 10,000m Final

The whole field ambled through the opening mile barely faster than six minutes, which at this level can be accurately described as ‘jogging’. The whole field bar one cruised through 5000 metres in 16:47 with England’s Izzy Fry (Sonia McGeorge, Newbury) and Poppy Tank (City of Plymouth) keeping an eye on things in 12th and 13th. However, they could do nothing when a series of surges in the next kilometre, helped by a 69 second 16th lap instantly thinned the field out. With 800 metres to run, Rose Davies of Australia hit the front full of running and powered away to win in 31:39.32. Fry finished 11th in 32:50.81 and Tank less than a stride behind was 12th in 32:50.83.

“It was an unreal experience,” said Fry. “The first 5km was ridiculously slow but it was like a fartlek, slow-fast-slow. Once they went, they went, and I found that hard.”

“You try and anticipate that move but when it happens you try and go, and you can’t and end up running alone. But it was an amazing experience,” said Tank. “We were told this is the highest level you can represent England so I’m very proud to have made the team.

“My club is City of Plymouth and at lunchtime Neal Edwards from my club read out some good luck wishes for me. It was really special.”

“My club is like family to me,” agreed Fry. “And for my coach to be here is so emotional. For him to get to see me do that is so special,” she added, revealing he is unwell currently.

Men's Hammer Throw Final

Canada’s Ethan Katzberg all but ended the competition with his very first throw. Fast across the circle, he launched the hammer 80.97 for a Games’ record. His card for the entire event was simply amazing as his second-round throw of 80.52 was more than eight metres further than his closest rival at that point, while his fifth round 80.94 confirmed his dominance, although his lead was eventually reduced to four metres. He finished with 80.37.

Behind him, it was a case of composing yourself and trying to find a rhythm. England’s Jake Norris (Nick Ridgeon, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) opened his account with 65.31 which put him in fourth but within touching distance of a medal if he could find a couple more metres. He did more than that with 69.56 and then 71.66 but he still needed another metre to haul himself into the medals. On this occasion, it wasn’t to be.

Men's High Jump Final

England’s Kimani Jack (Shaftesbury Barnet), the Commonwealth leader with 2.31 entered the competition late. Always a slight gamble, he missed 2.10 at the first time of asking but calmed the crowd down with his next attempt. A first-time clearance at 2.20 put him in the passenger seat with India’s Sarvesh Kushare also over 2.20 but driving the competition thanks to a better card. He slipped to second after a second time clearance at 2.25 while Jamaica’s Romain Beckford went clear at the first time of asking to take over in the top spot. Jack gambled again and passed 2.25 after a failure but had to call it a day with two more misses at 2.28. A bronze medal for the fast-improving jumper in what has been a long, long season already with more to come! Beckford won with 2.25.

Men's T37/38 100m Final

British champion and a 10.93 performer at his best, Thomas Young, T38 (Joseph McDonnell, Loughborough Students) went to his blocks as the favourite. He drove hard in the opening 30 metres and hauled himself clear by 70 metres to cross the line in a Games Record of 11.11. It was his 26th birthday so a memorable evening for all the right reasons.

“I can’t believe it. My last win was in Tokyo so it’s great to finally bounce back,” said Young. “Today was all about winning. It was really tough, and the Australians are looking really good. This is an absolutely massive Games and hopefully it’ll go on for many years.”

Men's 1500m T20 Final

Scotland’s Ben Sandilands, the Paralympic champion powered away on the final lap to win in 3:57.35. Daniel Wolff, T20 (Belgrave Harriers) was fifth in 4:09.57 while Kieran O’Hara, T20 (Patrick Gahagan, Havering) was seventh in 4:10.03.

Women's Shot Put F57 Final

Ozioma Nlewedum, F55 (Alison O’Riordan, Enfield and Haringey) threw 5.31 in the fourth round of the seated shot to finish tenth. India’s Sharmila won it with the last throw of the competition, a massive record of 9.81.

“The atmosphere was really good. I haven’t competed in front of such a big crowd before and they really pumped me up,” said Nlewedum. “I was really proud to make the team as I’m only F55 compared to my other competitors.”

Women's 800m Round 1

The World Indoor 1500 metres champion, Georgia Hunter Bell (Trevor Painter, Belgrave) did withdraw from the recent London Diamond League not feeling too well, but she looked full of running in her heat. She took the lead early on, pulling the field through 400 meres in 62.1 and 92.9 at 600 metres. She eased across the line in 2:02.61 looking like she was completing the first effort of a workout. “I was happy with that,” she said.  “The heats are always a bit nervy. I prefer to have an even run rather than a slow one with a burn-up. I feel much better now, and my voice is back! It’s so cool to be here, especially as it’s in Britain and on this fast track.”

Home countries athletes making the headlines

Wales’ Isabelle Boffey (Luke Gunn, Enfield and Haringey) took command of her 800 metres heat with 200 metres to run and never looked in trouble. The 2017 England Age group champion over two laps in Bedford clocked 2:01.53. “I’m very happy with the race. I had a good plan that covered every scenario and I think I executed it all very well,” she said.

In the next heat, Scotland’s Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan) followed Hunter Bell all the way around, and like her English rival she finished full of running in 2:03.09 to advance as did her fellow Scot, Erin Wallace (Trevor Painter, Giffnock North), third in the final heat with 2:03.15.

Wales’ Ellie Bowen (Cardiff Archers), F57 threw 6.48 in the seated shot which put her in in sixth place.