File photo from Canadian Cross Country Championships in Vancouver. Credit: Christopher Kelsall

© Copyright – 2018 – Athletics Illustrated

St. Catharines, ON’s Mohammed Ahmed won the silver medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Sunday, finishing the race less than two seconds behind winner Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda.

Cheptegei crossed the line at the time of 13:50.83. Ahmed recorded the time of 13:52.78.

Kenya’s Edward Zakayo won the bronze with his performance of 13:54.06.

For the host Australian’s, their top finisher was Stewart McSweyn in fifth, crossing the finish line in 13:58.96.

The field was well spread by the end of the 12th lap; however, Ahmed was within striking distance of Cheptegei with 200-metres to go. Cheptegei started the race by sitting in the middle of the 17-runner pack during the first 400-metres, while Ahmed led, and then took over for the second lap, but the two spent the most of the remainder of the race switching the lead with Zakayo. Entering the final lap, the finish order was set for the top four athletes.

Ahmed owns the Canadian record at the distance with his 13:01.74 set at Hayward Field in 2016. He also is the Canadian 10,000-metre record holder with his performance of 27:02.35 from the 2017 London IAAF World Track and Field Championships, where he finished eighth.

Ahmed is a four-time Canadian champion, Pan Am Games gold medallist from Toronto 2015 and finished fourth in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games 5,000-metres event with a 13:05.94.

The world record was set at 12:37.35 by Ethiopia’s Kenenesa Bekele from Hengelo in 2004.

In the 20-kilometre race walk, two Vancouver area athletes competed with Benjamin Thorne finishing just outside a medal position in fourth crossing the line in the time of 1:20:49, while Evan Dunfee – a 50K specialist – finished eighth in the time of 1:23:26.

In terms of athletics, the day also offered 100m, 400m heats and field events.

Monday, a few decathlon events will be taking place as well as 400m heats, field events and the 10,000m women’s race, which features two Canadians in Rachel Cliff and Natasha Wodak of Vancouver. Wodak owns the national record in the event with her 31:41.59, while Cliff recently set the national half-marathon record.

Follow all Canadian results at https://www.gc2018.com/