Wet and freezing conditions disrupt Commonwealth Games athletics in Glasgow
Athletes endured torrential rain, thunder and cold during a night of record performances and difficult competition.
Quick Look
- Torrential rain and cold conditions disrupted Commonwealth Games athletics in Glasgow, but several athletes still delivered record-breaking performances.
- England's Amy Hunt, Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme and Canada’s Camryn Rogers were among the standout performers.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The article describes a Commonwealth Games athletics session in Glasgow that took place in heavy rain and cold conditions. Several athletes were competing in sprint, jump, hammer throw and combined-events disciplines during the same session.
Torrential rain and cold conditions disrupted Commonwealth Games athletics in Glasgow, but several athletes still delivered record-breaking performances.
England's Amy Hunt said she was “absolutely slathered up in deep heat” after winning silver in the 100m, while other athletes shivered through media interviews and officials struggled to clear water from the runway.
Australia's Eleanor Patterson wore a tartan scarf, and Cameroon sprinter Emmanuel Eseme said it was the first time he had raced in such conditions. He won the men's 100m in 9.83 seconds, a Commonwealth Games record and the third-fastest time this year.
The weather became especially severe during the women's hammer throw, when the first two throws slipped from athletes' grips, and thunder cracked above the arena. In the men's 10,000m, Uganda's Samuel Simba Cherop lost a shoe and finished seventh with a soggy sock.
David Mullarkey won bronze in the men's 10,000m, giving the Isle of Man its first Commonwealth track-and-field medal. Scotland's Andrew Butchart finished 13th and said the conditions were not too cold compared with Scottish winter cross-country racing.
Some athletes struggled badly. England's Morgan Lake failed to clear the high jump bar in any of her three attempts, while Scotland's Steven Stone did not register a clean effort in the men's T20 long jump. Northern Ireland's Kate O'Connor said she was gutted by her 12.85m shot put effort in the heptathlon.
O'Connor recovered strongly in the 200m, running 24.14 seconds to move back to the top of the heptathlon standings. England's Jade O'Dowda dropped to second, 49 points behind.
Canada's Camryn Rogers set another Games record in the hammer throw with 74.91m when the event resumed after a brief pause.
Hunt finished only 0.01 seconds outside her lifetime best in the women's 100m, which was won by New Zealand's Zoe Hobbs. Hunt said she was proud of herself for gritting it out and trusting her long legs.
A handful of hardy locals stayed until the final anthem as the clock neared 11pm, capping off a night described as one few will forget.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Athletes and officials are likely to continue discussing the impact of the weather on upcoming Commonwealth Games sessions.
Likely · Within days
Performances from this session may be cited as standout results because of the record times and marks achieved in poor conditions.
Possible · Within days
Open Questions
- Will the weather affect the remaining athletics sessions?
- How many other events were altered or delayed by the rain?
- Will the athletes who struggled in these conditions recover in later rounds or events?
