In athletics, Jake Wightman followed up his World Championship win in Oregon by making the podium in the Men’s 1500m at Alexander Stadium.
To read about Wightman’s bronze, see the below link:
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2022/august/wightman-takes-brave-bronze/
Loughborough-based Harry Coppell also won bronze by clearing 5.50m in the Men’s Pole Vault. To read about Harry’s great success, see the below link:
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2022/august/coppell-takes-commonwealth-bronze/
Staying in athletics, in the Women’s High Jump, alumna Morgan Lake came agonisingly close to the medals after just missing 1.95m to take fourth place. In the same event, current student (Sport and Exercise Psychology), Emily Borthwick, recorded 1.78m to finish 11th.
Following her performance, Lake said:
“[I’ve] mixed emotions, I obviously came here with the intention to medal after getting silver at Gold Coast four years ago…I was so nervous when I came out but once I flipped those nerves into using the crowd it just lifted me so much. I’m proud of myself and how I jumped.”
In the 400m Women’s Hurdles, alumna Jessie Knight finished an excellent fifth, clocking 55.11, and Scotland’s Beth Dobbin – also an alumna – made the final of the Women’s 200m finishing in 23.40.
In the heats, England Men’s 4x100m team won the opening heat to ease through to tomorrow’s final (12.40pm)
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey formed part of England’s quartet – now one of the favourites following the withdrawal of Jamaica and South Africa respectively.
Elsewhere, England Women’s cricket team were defeated in the semi-finals after India claimed a four-run victory.
Loughborough duo Amy Jones and Nat Sciver (alumna) built a steady partnership that threatened to see England progress, but Jones was run out for 31 to swing the pendulum back in India’s favour.
Captain Sciver said: “Any loss is tough to take, we obviously wanted to be in the gold medal match and hadn't considered not (being in it).
“It's going to be tough to take but I'm sure we'll review as quickly as we can and then really be able to park that and go out with the same freedom and attitude that we have been doing tomorrow.
“I'm gutted. It's such a small margin game, T20. We pegged it back really well in the first innings and then couldn't quite get over the line when they put the pressure on us. Very small margins but they came out on top.”
England will now face New Zealand in tomorrow’s bronze medal match after they too were beaten in the other semi-final. Australia and India will contest the gold.
There was also heartbreak for England netball as they were beaten by old enemy Australia at the semi-final stage, 60-51.
Alumnae Jo Harten and Jade Clarke both started for Jess Thirlby’s side, but the Diamonds showed their superior quality throughout to keep the hosts at bay.
The Roses will now face New Zealand for bronze on Sunday at 1:30pm.
England Men’s hockey were pegged back from 2-0 up to lose 3-2 against Australia in a topsy-turvy semi-final clash. England, who gave it everything, will now need to dust themselves down before facing South Africa for bronze on Monday.
In squash, alumnus Daryl Selby will compete in the Men’s doubles semi-finals after he and partner Adrian Waller beat Canada duo Nick Sachvie and David Baillargeon, 2-1, in the quarter-finals. They now face Scotland tomorrow at 1.45pm.
Selby said: “It is not that much of a physical game, it is a mental game. Experience comes into it a lot and we have got a lot of experience.
“There are such fine margins, you look at the last few points. It just came down to a little bit of experience, hitting the right shots and changing tactics for the few last moments.
“That actually made the difference and that is where the experience comes in.”