#GC2018 Day Nine: Kennedy Shines at First Commonwealth Games
20-year-old Western Australian pole vaulter Nina Kennedy has made her first Commonwealth Games one to remember, winning the bronze medal in the Women’s Pole Vault competition on day nine.
ATHLETICS
Having to wait nine days to get the chance to compete at the Commonwealth Games would be enough to take the nerves to an unbelievable level for many athletes however WAIS’s own Nina Kennedy and Liz Parnov proved more focused than ever today as they took to Carrara Stadium to compete in the Women’s Pole Vault final.
Parnov was the first of the pairing to jump working her way up to a 4.40m clearance and earning herself an equal fifth place finish alongside England’s Molly Caudery.
Commonwealth Games debutant Nina Kennedy was the real star of the night for the Australian camp reaching great heights and winning the bronze medal.
Beginning her campaign at the 4.30m mark Kennedy made all of her jumps on the first attempt before having three missed attempts at 4.65m.
Also competing for the first time of the Games today was javelin athlete Luke Cann.
Cann participated in the preliminary round of the Men’s Javelin event competing in Group A.
Reaching a distance of 77.43m on his second of three attempts the Western Australian finished in fourth place and deservedly booked himself a place in tomorrow’s final.
After qualifying for the final of the Women’s 100m Hurdles yesterday with a PB time, Brianna Beahan returned to the track today for a shot at the gold medal.
An outstanding effort saw her finish in fifth place with a time of 13.11 seconds, 0.04 seconds behind fellow Australian Michelle Jenneke.
BOXING
Returning to the boxing ring after three days of recovery, Caitlin Parker appeared to be in fine form as she took on Nigeria’s Millicent Agboegbulem.
Replicating her performance from the quarter final, Parker was the clear victor having been judged the winner of all five rounds.
The Western Australian boxer now advances to tomorrow’s gold medal fight where she will verse Lauren Price of Wales.
HOCKEY
The Kookaburras have made it through to the Commonwealth Games Men’s Hockey grand final after a tight fought game against England saw them run out the eventual winners.
After getting an early lead, scoring their first goal in the first quarter, the Australians were in a good position.
It wasn’t until the third that England fired back with a goal of their own, taking the game to a new level of tension given a spot in the gold medal match was on the line.
Despite the immense defensive pressure from both sides the Kookaburras continued to fight hard finding a last minute goal in the fourth quarter placing them back in the lead, a lead the English were unable to answer.
Australia’s first goal was scored by Western Australian Trent Mitton who also went on to score their second, converting a penalty corner to give his side the ultimate win.
With the Games drawing to a close April 14th is set to be a big one with a number of medals up for grabs for our Western Australian competitors.
Day ten’s competition will include Madison Keeney competing in the Women’s 3m Springboard, Cameron Meyer fighting for gold in the Men’s Road Race, Brianna Beahan racing in the Women’s 4x100m final, Luke Cann contesting gold in the Men’s Javelin final, the Australian Diamonds taking on New Zealand and the Boomers taking on Scotland for a spot in their respective grand finals and finally Caitlin Parker fighting for the gold medal in the Women’s 75kg classification of the boxing.
- Annika Lee-Jones