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The athletics portion of the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games comes to a final today with high jump, javelin, 4 x 100m relay, men’s long jump — T38, 200m, 3000m and 800m.
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Women’s 800m
The women’s final 800m event was decided after just two heats on Wednesday. The fastest four to qualify were all from Heat 1. From England was Phoebe Gill with her run of 2:05.38. Finishing in second was Australia’s Fleur Cooper in 2:07.28, while Canada’s Alexa Dow clocked a third-place finish of 2:07.36. Kenya’s Janet Jepkoech Chepkemoi finished fourth small “q” qualified on time with her 2:07.70 performance.
Knowing that finishing top-three in their heat, and now what time to be faster than it appeared that the top athletes ran only fast enough to qualify. India’s Asha Kiran Barla clocked a 2:08.98 for the win. England’s Alice Bennett took second in 2:09.27 and taking third was Brenda Chekwemoi from Uganda recording a 2:10.69. Qualifying on time was Daisy Chepngetich Ruto finishing time in 2:14.24.
Sixteen-year-old Gill owns a best of 2:03.10 from May this year. Fifteen-year-old Cooper, in April, clocked her personal best of 2:06.47. Dow (16) clocked a 2:06.98 on July 16, which represents her personal best. Expect the final race to be much faster than the heats.
The winner from Heat 2 will be just as much of a factor as Barla has run as fast as 2:04.82 in May this year.
Dow, Canada’s flag-bearer earlier finished fifth in the 1500m finals.
Men’s 800m
Kenya’s Kelvin Kimutai Koech clocked the fastest time between the two heats in number two — the opposite of the women. Koech clocked a 1:50.38. The 18-year-old’s personal best is a staggering 1:44.07. Canada’s Michael Hussey, one year younger took second in the time of 1:52.27 while third-place finisher Caleb McLoed from Scotland took third in 1:53.38. Hometown runner Keeran Sriskandarajah qualified on time clocking a 1:53.38 performance. It is the 15-year-old’s personal best. Just getting to the final is a win itself for Sriskandarajah.
In Heat 2 it was England’s Miles Waterworth in 1:54.26, who was followed in by Ramond Omara (1:54.59) and Canada’s second entry Noah Neves (1:54.66). The fourth, qualifying on time was Jake Kinrade with his 1:54.79. With all four in the “1:54” range, it was a hard-fought battle for some. Will everyone have the legs to go again Thursday?
According to the Trinbago23 listing only one athlete has run faster than 1:50 and that is Koech with his 1:44.07.
