by Alfonz Juck
Katerina Johnson Thompson, Photo 1/2, photo by Mike Deering for The Shoe Addicts
Katerina Johnson Thompson, 2/2, photo by Mike Deering for The Shoe Addicts
The 2018 Commonwealth Games are being held in Gold Coast, Australia. Here are the event by event previews from Alfonz Juck’s EME News. We will have two pieces a day from Stuart Weir on the Commonwealth Games!
EME NEWS (APR 6, 2018) COMMONWEALTH GAMES PREVIEWS
Walsh thinking big, so is Manyonga
GOLD COAST (AUS): Another top highlight of the Year 2018 for athletics starts on Sunday morning Australian time with 20 km walks. Several Olympic and World Championships gold medalists will compete for one week of World class athletics with expected big crowds. Several Games records are under threat. Top duel could be Shaunae Miller-Uibo vs Elaine Thompson and Dina Asher-Smith in the 200 m, also in shape Tom Walsh, Luvo Manyonga and Caster Semenya will go for meet bests. Many early World outdoor leads also expected.
Commonwealth Games short event-by-event previews
MEN
100m – Former World champion Yohan Blake from Jamaica faces South Africans Henricho Bruintjes and Akani Simbine and reigning silver medallist Adam Gemili from England.
200m – How will South Africa’s Clarence Munyai perform after an incredible 19.69 at his national championships. Teammate Anaso Jobodwana is also returning to form while the Jamaican contingent includes reigning champion Rasheed Dwyer. Also watch out for England’s Zharnel Hughes who recently clocked 20.23 into a strong headwind along with World medalist Jereem Richards.
400m – This could be the race of the champs despite the absence of Wayde van Niekerk and reigning champion Kirani James. Botswana has named an excellent trio of Isaac Makwala, Baboloki Thebe and Karabo Sibanda while Trinidad & Tobago will be fielding Lalonde Gordon, Machel Cedenio and Renny Quow. Grenada’s Bralon Taplin will also be looking to rebound after a DQ at the World Indoor Championships.
800m – Reigning champion Nijel Amos from Botswana is the favourite to defend his title.
1500m – A Kenyan clean sweep is possible with their trio which includes world champion Elijah Manangoi and world silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot.
5000m – Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei will be going for a 5000/10,000m double. An inexperienced Kenyan group includes youngster Edward Zakayo, who won the Trials in 13:24.08.
10,000m – World silver medallist Cheptegei faces Kenya’s world U20 champion Rodgers Chumo and Canada’s Mo Ahmed.
3000m steeplechase – World and Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto is the outstanding favourite.
Marathon – Favourites include 44-year-old Kenneth Mungara from Kenya, world fourth-placer Callum Hawkins from Scotland, former world bronze medallist Solomon Mutai from Uganda and reigning champion Michael Shelley from Australia. After a DNF on his debut in Amsterdam, Zane Robertson will also try the distance again.
110m hurdles – World indoor champion Andrew Pozzi is looking for another title. Ronald Levy leads the Jamaican team with Omar McLeod an absentee and Cyprus’ Milan Trajkovic could also feature.
400m hurdles – Last year’s DL winner Kyron McMaster begins as the favourite. Other top entrants include former world champion Nicholas Bett from Kenya, Jamaica’s Jaheel Hyde and veterans LJ Van Zyl from South Africa and Dai Greene from Wales.
4x100m relay – Jamaica, England and South Africa have all named strong relay teams.
4x400m relay – Botswana will be looking to challenge world champions Trinidad & Tobago. Expect the championship record of 2:59.03 to fall.
20km race walk – Excellent line-up includes South Africa’s Lebogang Shange, global medallists Dane Bird-Smith from Australia, Ben Thorne from Canada with Olympic top-six finishers Evan Dunfee from Canada and England’s Tom Bosworth.
Long jump – South Africans Rushwahl Samaai and Luvo Manyonga could challenge the Games record of 839.
Triple jump – Wide open field includes 2014 bronze medallist Arpinger Singh from India and Olympic seventh-placer Troy Doris from Guyana. Athletics Weekly picks Jamaican Clive Pullen.
High jump – Leading names include former world champion Donald Thomas from the Bahamas and former Olympic bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz.
Pole vault – Head-to-head between in-form Shawn Barber from Canada and world indoor fourth-placer Kurtis Marschall.
Shot put – World indoor and outdoor champion Tom Walsh looks set to smash the Games record of 21.61m held by reigning champion O’Dayne Richards from Jamaica who will defend his title.
Discus – Top names include Jamaicans Fedrick Dacres and Traves Smikle and Australians Benn Harradine with Matthew Denny.
Hammer – England’s Nick Miller is a big favourite after setting a British record and world-lead of 78.29m last week.
Javelin – World U20 champion Neeraj Chopra from India could be the favourite with reigning champion Julius Yego from Kenya not in top form.
Decathlon – Reigning champion Damian Warner from Canada is a big favourite to retain his title.
WOMEN
100m – World and Olympic finalist Michelle-Lee Ahye will be looking for her first individual medal. Her main rivals include Jamaicans Christiana Williams and Natasha Morrison with European indoor champion Asha Philip.
200m – Olympic champions Elaine Thompson and Shaunae Miller-Uibo are due to clash but European champion Dina Asher-Smith is in excellent form.
400m – Jamaica’s reigning champion Stephenie Ann-McPherson faces former world and Commonwealth champion Amantle Montsho from Botswana.
800m – Caster Semenya will be looking to complete the set of major titles. Olympic bronze medallist Margaret Wambui also competes and watch out for Emily Tuei, who won the Kenyan Trials in 1:58.25.
1500m – Caster Semenya will be looking for a middle distance double. Kenya is fielding a strong trio including Winny Chebet and Beatrice Chepkoech.
5000m – World champion Hellen Obiri is a strong favourite.
10,000m – The Kenyan trio includes trials winner Sandra Chebet but Uganda’s Mercyline Chelangat and Rwanda’s Salome Nyirarukundo will be looking to challenge.
3000m steeplechase – The Kenyan team includes world U20 champion Celliphine Chespol and reigning champion Purity Kirui.
Marathon – Australians Jess Trengove and Lisa Weightman are among the favourites on home soil with the top Kenyans absent. The fastest of their triumvirate is Sheila Jerotich (2:27:34 PB).
100m hurdles – Former world champion Danielle Williams from Jamaica is the top name with Sally Pearson a late withdrawal.
400m hurdles – Jamaica’s trio includes world bronze medallist Ristananna Tracey. Other top entrants include Scotland’s Eilidh Doyle, South Africa’s Wenda Nel and Canada’s Sage Watson.
4x100m relay – Jamaica will be looking to retain their title although Nigeria will be fielding a strong team including in-form Blessing Okagbare
4x400m relay – Jamaica should dominate with Stephenie-Ann McPherson and Christine Day part of their relay pool.
20km race walk – Favourites include Australians Beki Smith and Claire Tallent.
Long jump – World leader Christabel Nettey from Canada faces home favourite Brooke Stratton and England’s Shara Proctor and Lorraine Ugen.
Triple jump – Jamaica’s reigning champion Kimberly Williams is expected to defend her title.
High jump – There could be a rare gold medal for St. Lucia courtesy of Levern Spencer. World indoor fourth placer Morgan Lake from England also competes.
Pole vault – In-form Eliza McCartney from New Zealand faces England’s Holly Bradshaw.
Shot put – On her return from pregnancy, Valerie Adams is looking for her fourth successive title but she will come up against a very strong field including world indoor silver medallist Danniel Thomas-Dodd from Jamaica.
Discus – Former world champion Dani Stevens is a big favourite to retain her title on home soil.
Hammer – Olympic bronze medallist Sophie Hitchon is the standout entrant for England.
Javelin – Kathryn Mitchell set an Australian record of 68.57m in the build-up. The field also includes former two-time winner Sunette Viljoen from South Africa.
Heptathlon – World indoor champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson from England is by far the leading contender.
