Commonwealth Games 2026, Morning Session, Wednesday July 28: Sixty years in the making
The mile made a welcome return to the Games for the first time since 1966. Perhaps the greatest moment in the Games history came when England’s Roger Bannister and Australia’s John Landy went head-to-head in the Miracle Mile in 1954.
For the record Bannister, the first man under four minutes took advantage of Landy looking to his left and kicked by on the right for victory in the race of the century. And now it’s back, every bit as dramatic.
Wednesday morning’s highlights
- Games record in the heats of the men’s mile
- Team England going strongly in the women’s heptathlon
- One throw and through for England’s Scot Lincoln in the shot
- Team England qualify 5 for next round and beyond
Men’s One Mile Round 1
In a rough and tumble first race that saw the defending champion Oliver Hoare from Australia hit the deck, Team England’s Thomas Keen (Mark Vile, Cambridge and Coleridge) kept out of trouble and advanced to the final. He crossed the line in 3:59.34 in fourth.
“The plan was to get out hard and to make sure I was never outside the top five. There was a big fall but thankfully that was behind me,” said Keen. “Being in Scotland is super exciting especially as it was a late call. I felt I had to prove the selectors made the right call.
“I’m super grateful to my club and my coach, Mark. I wouldn’t be where I am now without them. They’ve guided me the whole way since I was 12.”
Heat two was very different to the first race where the field ambled through the opening couple of laps well outside of two minutes. Australia’s Cam Myers led the whole way to run a Games record of 3:53.85 to remove the legendary Kenyan, Kip Keino from the record book. Through three quarters of a mile in 2:57.02 he jogged around a 56 last lap to set up a great final. Team England’s Archie Davis (Joel Kidger, Brighton Phoenix) ran strongly but couldn’t move from eighth to a qualifying sixth in the final 100 metres. He finished with 3:57.98.
“The crowd was great, but I’m disappointed. The prep was good, but I came up slightly short on the day. My body didn’t quite feel bang on, but representing England is amazing,” said Davis.
“And I’ve had so many messages of support from my club mates at Brighton Phoenix. I’m so grateful for everything they’ve done for me.”
Women's Heptathlon
In the ever-changing combined events standings, Team England’s Ellen Barber (John Lane, Wells City) rocketed up the field from eighth overnight to as high as fourth at one point with a personal best in the long jump of 6.20. She eventually headed to the javelin, well-placed in sixth.
Ahead of her, teammate Jade O’Dowda (John Lane, Newham and Essex Beagles) responded with 6.16 which kept her safely in the silver medal slot while Niamh Emerson (Aston Moore, Newham and Essex Beagles) dropped back to seventh with 5.96.
Meanwhile, O’Dowda improved to 6.17 with her second jump, and then finished with a much better 6.26 to strengthen her grip on a medal. And she needed that longer effort as the event leader, Northern Ireland’s Kate O’Connor (Newry), who by her own admission had a below par opening day, jumped a personal best of 6.37 in the third and final round.
She followed that with a Games’ record of 52.85 in the javelin, while Team England’s O’Dowda, Barber and Emerson threw 43.85, 42.77 and 39.91 respectively. All of which meant, with just the 800 metres to run later in the evening, England’s trio lined up in second, fourth and seventh.
Men’s 200m Round 1
Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet) was an untroubled winner of his heat, clocking 20.45. Interestingly, last night’s 100 metres winner Emmanuel Eseme eased right back in his heat, running 20.73. He qualified but by just 0.06sec!
“I’ve done some good work, so I’m excited,” Hughes said with a smile, hinting at that there’s more in the tank.
Men's Shot Put Qualifying Round
Scott Lincoln (City of York) needed just one effort to qualify for the final. His 20.09 was an auto qualifier. Ahead of him, New Zealand’s Tom Walsh also only needed one throw, although his was 21.03. Walsh holds the Games record with 22.45.
“I did exactly the job I came here to do. And being the team captain is such an honour so hopefully I can do my best without affecting my own preparations,” said Lincoln, explaining how he’s tried to chat to every team member telling them to just keep to what they know best.
“My speech was all about telling people not to try and be a super-hero. Just do what you came here to do.”
Men’s T12 100 Round 1
Team England’s Zachary Shaw, T12 (Leon Baptiste, Cleethorpes) ran a windy 10.91 to comfortably qualify. First out of the blocks, he eased right back in the final 30 metres for the win.
“I was just thinking ‘get a clean run and qualify’. Championships racing is so nerve wracking. Commonwealths mean a lot to me as they are so inclusive,” said Shaw, holding back the tears. “My mum passed last year so I run for her. I’m ready for both of us,” Shaw said. “Cleethorpes, my club, has been so good for me. Without them I wouldn’t be here today, I’ve been so lucky. And of course, [being a seaside club], they love fish and chips!”
Women’s 400 Hurdles Round 1
Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin, Shaftesbury Barnet) is in the form of her life, running inside 54 seconds in Spain earlier this summer (53.92). Here, she ran a wonderfully controlled final straight moving from fourth to second (and qualifying) in the space of three strides. She ran 56.08, while Lina Nielsen (Jack Green, Shaftesbury Barnet) was also second in 55.66.
“I’m really enjoying it right now. Getting these opportunities don’t go amiss. It’s so fun to compete for England. It’s cool ‘repping’ the red,” Newnham said.
Home countries athletes making the headlines
Scot Jake Wightman (John Hartigan, Edinburgh) and Welshman Jake Heywood (Cardiff) will join Scotland’s Josh Kerr (Edinburgh) in the mile final. Wightman ran 3:54.05 with Heywood a stride behind in 3:54.18 in the second heat.
Earlier, Kerr, the world record holder jogged across the line in his heat in 3:58.57, looking for all the world like he was walking despite operating at sub 55-second speed. He even had time to wave to the crowd with 150 metres to run with most of the field right on his shoulder.
“Coming off from a high emotionally, that felt great,” said mile world record holder Kerr. “I love the fact that more and more people are watching the sport now. It’s fantastic to be part of the mile.”
Useful information
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