Saturday, November 2, 2024

Commonwealth Games 2014 – Track, Day One

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HomeRaceRace ReviewsCommonwealth Games 2014 - Track, Day One

Commonwealth Games GlasgowIt’s the first day of competition in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the chat in the riders’ enclosure before the start of the first track cycling session was that Australia and New Zealand had brought a team at the top of their game – and it didn’t take long to become apparent this was true.

Australia dominated the first day in a packed Sir Chris Hoy velodrome in Glasgow, taking six medals back to the athletes’ village just down the road; two golds, a silver and three bronzes.

Anna Meares (in the 500m Time Trial) and the Pursuit Team of Jack Bobridge, Luke Davison, Josh Edmonson and Glen O’Shea won their finals with resounding performances, while New Zealand took the men’s Team Sprint gold after qualifying fastest.

Scotland got on the podium too, three-times Paralympic Champion Aileen McGlynn and her pilot Louise Haston took silver in the women’s Para-Sport Sprint B2 Tandem event.

Commonwealth Games Track
A busy scene at the track on the first day of competition. Photo©Martin Williamson

Men’s Sprint

Australia’s aerodynamic powerhouse Matthew Glaetzer set a new Games Record in the Qualifying round of 9.779.

Seeded one and going off last, his unusual position and pure speed put the New Zealanders Ed Dawkins (9.818) and Sam Webster (9.933) into second and third position.

Commonwealth Games Mens Sprint
Matthew Glaetzer (Australia). Photo©Martin Williamson
Commonwealth Games
Ed Dawkins (New Zealand). Photo©Martin Williamson
Commonwealth Games
Sam Webster (New Zealand). Photo©Martin Williamson

Scotland’s Callum Skinner (10.198) was faster than Olympic Champion, England’s Jason Kenny (12.206), and slotted one place ahead of him in tenth spot.

Callum Skinner
Callum Skinner (Scotland). Photo©Martin Williamson

Photo Gallery: Men’s Sprint – Qualifying