Commonwealth Games 2026, Morning Session, Saturday August 1: Team England give it the old one-two
The crowd barely had time to settle into their seats before Team England started the morning session in the best possible way: gold and silver in the very first race. It was the perfect way to follow what had been a heady, hectic Friday night that saw three English medals and this session went even better with four in what is turning out to be a great final couple of days.
Saturday morning’s highlights
- Team England go one-two in the T54 men’s 1500 metres
- Games’ record in the women’s 10,000m walk
- 44.25 wins the men’s 400 metres
- Both Team England relays squads qualify for the 4x100m final
Men's 1500m T54 Final
In a tactical wheelchair race where it would all come down to the final 200 metres, Team England’s Nathan Maguire (Stephen Hoskins, Kirkby) and Daniel Sidbury (Christine Parsloe, Sutton and District) were nothing less than perfect.
The Australian pair of Sam Rizzo and Sam Carter had attempted to control things by creating a wall up front while the English pair followed closely behind, Maguire sitting tight on the inside, Sidbury on his right shoulder.
Passing the Aussies looked like a tall order, but with 150m to go, a gap on the inside appeared and Maguire seized his opportunity and went for it. He opened up a gold medal winning gap in the space of 50 metres to take the gold medal with 3:17.65. At precisely the same moment, teammate Sidbury accelerated hard on the outside to take the silver medal with 3:18.31.
“I couldn’t see how he would get out,” said Hannah Cockroft (Paul Moseley, Leeds), the nine-time Olympic champion and Maguire’s partner who was spectating trackside. “I could see the panic on his face, but I know how much retaining the title means to him,” she added.
Maguire has had two very different issues to deal with in the past couple of months. Out with a broken wrist for 12 weeks until February, his daughter Rosie was born in the week he returned to training. He had to learn how to be a new father while making up for lost time with his Games preparation. “It’s been mad,” he said, still amazed that he managed to get out of the box he had sealed himself into.
“I gave myself a heart attack to be honest. I thought I would be fighting for third, but I don’t know how that happened,” he said.
“There was a little bit of panic, but I knew I wasn’t pushing that hard, but I dropped them a lot more than I expected.”
Sidbury, the silver medallist here and four years ago in Birmingham said: “That feels consistent if nothing else. I was actually disappointed in Birmingham with the silver but this time I’m very, very happy. I didn’t think I’d be in medal contention. That was a big surprise. Once I got the chair rolling, I knew I was in with a shout, but how did Nathan get out of that box,” he asked with a smile!
Men's Discus Throw Final
Commonwealth silver medallist, Lawrence Okoye (Croydon, Zane Zuquemin) has a 71.88 throw to his name this year, so rightly started as one of the favourites. The 34-year-old former NFL defensive tackle (and 2010 England Age Group champ!) has enjoyed a long and varied career and is currently in the form of his life.
So he knew not to panic when his opening throw was a foul. He didn’t and his second attempt was 63.63 which slotted him into an early bronze.
From that point, it all stayed the same with just a couple of throws remaining with Australia’s Matthew Denny out in the lead where he had been all competition long thanks to his 67.32. Try as they might, nobody could alter the positions in the sixth round although Okoye did come close with 64.45 just 65cm shy of silver.
“I really struggled today but I came away with something. Sometimes it’s like that,” said Okoye. “I wanted to try my best on the day, which I did, and you have to live with the results.”
Women's 400m Final
Yemi Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green and Essex Ladies) has had a very impressive 2026 that has seen her dip inside the 50-second barrier for the first time. The winner of the England Age Group Champs back in 2021, she was well positioned off the bend to make a move on bronze. But it wasn’t to be, and she crossed the line in 51.60.
Women's 200m T38 Final
Sophie Hahn, T38 (Joseph McDonnell, Charnwood), who was looking for the double after winning the 100 metres, blasted the bend and looked well on her way to do just that. Well clear, she ran into a wall of lactic acid with 40 metres to run and she was overhauled for the gold medal, Hahn ran 27.53 behind Australia’s Rhiannon Clarke’s 26.92. Teammates Ali Fewins, T38 (Leon Baptiste, Guildford and Godalming) finished sixth in 29.21 while Rosie Porter, T38 (Catherine Walker, Herts Phoenix) was seventh in 29.30.
“I’m happy with the silver. In my head I wanted two golds, but it’s still good. When you’ve won gold you have to come down and level off so I can’t complain. It’s been incredible,” said Hahn.
Her teammates, Fewins and Porter had mixed emotions, but came away happy. Porter said: “It was good, and it went well. It was a bit windy, but you have to get through it and I’m happy with the time. Fewin was also pleased but for a different reason: “That wasn’t good for me. I had a miscarriage, so this was good therapy. It was rubbish out there today, but I’m happy.”
Men's Shot Put F57 Final
With just four throwers remaining, Taz Nichols, F57 (Alison O’Riordan, Enfield and Haringey) found himself in the lead in the seated shot. Each competitor has six attempts back to back, so it was a tense wait for the Team England athlete. His season’s best of 10.54 was also a Games’ record at that point so it would be a high stakes 30 minutes or so. Would the record be enough?
The answer came as soon as the next thrower when South Africa’s Nicolaas Strydom threw 10.94. The seeding was clearly correct as he too was passed meaning Nichols slipped to bronze with a couple to throw. And at the end of the close to three hours long final, he finished fifth with India’s Soman Rana winning in 13.40.
“It was brilliant; I’ve been happy all week and I tried to take that into the session today. I’m a typical thrower in that I wanted to throw further,” said Nichols. “It’s been a long journey. I’ve been with my coach for 11 years now and she’s been the most influential person in my life. She taught me how to walk again. She is amazing. I am so lucky.”
Women's 4 x 100m Relay Round 1
Team England’s quartet of Mabel Akande (Denise Timmis, Lincoln Wellington), Aleeya Sibbons (Colin Bovell, Newham and Essex Beagles), Renee Regis (Darren Braithwaite, Shaftesbury Barnet) and Louise Evans (Linford Christie, TVH) need to tidy up for the final. They made it through in third in 44.11 with a scrappy second change, but it matters not as they will run again.
Men's 4 x 100m Relay Round 1
A slick looking Team England of Elliot Jones (Leon Baptiste, Liverpool Pembroke),
Nicholas Walsh (Tony Walsh, Sale Harriers), Nathaneel Mitchel-Blake (Ryan Freckleton, Newham and Essex Beagles) and Romell Glave (Michael Afilaka, Croydon Harriers) moved on untroubled to the final, finishing with 38.90 in third.
Home countries athletes making the headlines
Teenager, Wales’s Charlotte Henrich (Nigel Stickings, Invicta East Kent) was fourth in the women’s 400 metres final in 51.16. And Scotland’s Nicole Yeargin (Pitreavie) was fifth in 51.27 – good news for a GB relay squad!
“I gave it my all,” said Henrich. “I’m proud of myself. It’s not bitter sweet; I’m happy, I’m only 19!”
Useful information
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