Five medals is our best Commonwealths haul since 1990 Games

Tuesday 17th April 2018

Mark Dry opened up the Games with bronze for Scotland in the hammer on the first day (photo by Bobby Gavin)

By Peter Jardine, Head of Communications

Team Scotland’s track, field and marathon team delivered the best medal tally in the Commonwealth Games since 1990.

Robbie Simpson took the tally to five on Sunday morning in Australia with a bronze to add to that won in the 1500m by Jake Wightman the previous evening.

Mark Dry with bronze in the hammer and Eilidh Doyle with silver in the 400m hurdles replicated their Glasgow 2014 performances while Maria Lyle took silver in the T35 100m.

Seven Games events have come and gone since Scotland won five medals in Auckland in 1990 and there was a period within that sequence when only nine were achieved over the course of five Commonwealths (from 1994 to 2010 inclusive).

Performance director Rodger Harkins was head coach for Team Scotland and Julie Mollison Team Manager and they and a number of staff will soon begin the trip home.

‘I think the way Callum Hawkins tried to carry on in the marathon on Sunday, in severe heat in Gold Coast, simply epitomised the efforts and spirit of this Team Scotland track, field and marathon team,’ said scottishathletics chief executive, Mark Munro.

‘And indeed the way the team all rallied around him afterwards.

‘Clearly the medals are a highlight and we offer our congratulations to the athletes themselves – Mark Dry, Maria Lyle, Eilidh Doyle, Jake Wightman and Robbie Simpson – and their families and coaches.

‘It is a matter of record that five medals secured is the best figure achieved over seven Commonwealth Games since 1990 in Auckland, when five medals were also won.

‘In addition, there was a National Record for the Women’s 4 x 400m team as well as a number of athletes placed fourth, fifth or sixth.

National Record by our 4 x 400m Women’s Relay team

‘I want to thank all the athletes, their personal coaches and the clubs involved in their development at any stage over a number of years up to this point for their hard work and support.

‘I also thank all staff members and others who were the support team in Australia for a number of weeks seeking to prepare athletes in the best possible way.

‘Now the focus has to be how we maintain progress and continue to propel athletes and their coaches to the levels required to succeed at Europeans, World, Olympic and Paralympic over the next few years.

‘Coupled with four medals for Scottish athletes with GB and NI at the recent World Indoor Champs, I believe there are strong indications Scottish athletes are headed in the right direction and our role is to facilitate that by developing pathways and supporting coaches and clubs in the development of athletes.’

Here’s the list of performances . . . 

Mark Dry: Hammer: Bronze Medal

Chris Bennett: Hammer   8th place

Callum Hawkins: Marathon: DNF

Guy Learmonth: 800m: Fourth in heat

Chris O’Hare: 1500m: Eighth in final

Robbie Simpson: Marathon:  Bronze medal

Allan Smith: High Jump: Fifth place

David Smith: High Jump 10th in final

Jake Wightman: 800m fourth in final; 1500m Bronze Medal

 

Amy Carr: T37 Long Jump: Eighth place

Zoey Clark: 400m Fourth in semi-final; National Record in 4 x 400m, sixth place

Eilidh Doyle: 400m Hurdles Silver Medal; National Record in 4 x 400m, sixth place

Sammi Kinghorn: T54 1500m Fourth place; T54 Marathon Fourth place

Maria Lyle: T35 100m: Silver Medal

Holly McArthur: Heptathlon: 10th place

Kirsten McAslan: 4 x 400m National Record, sixth place

Eilish McColgan: 1500m Sixth place; 5000m Sixth place

Nikki Manson: High Jump: Seventh place

Beth Potter: 10,000m: 18th place

Lynsey Sharp: 800m: Fourth in heat; National Record in 4 x 400m, sixth place

Steph Twell: 1500m: Seventh place; 5000m 14th place

Lennie Waite: 3000m Steeplechase: 10th place

 

 

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