Athletics fans erupt over Rohan Browning act at Commonwealth Games
Rohan Browning has made a major statement at the Commonwealth Games, storming into the semi-finals of the 100m with the fourth-fastest time.
The Aussie sprinter made international headlines at the Tokyo Olympics last year when he won his heat featuring Jamaican superstar Yohan Blake.
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And Browning rediscovered his best form in the nick of time on Tuesday to power into the 100m semi-finals in Birmingham in quick fashion.
Two weeks ago at the world championships in Eugene, the Aussie was gutted to be eliminated at the same stage of the blue-riband sprint in 10.22 seconds.
He looked remarkably better at the Alexander Stadium on Tuesday, defying tricky conditions to win his heat in 10.10 - the equal-fourth fastest qualifying time.
Rohan Browning makes a statement 🔥🔥
He wins heat nine, and qualifies for the semi-final with a 10.10!#B2022 pic.twitter.com/42AqndN9Mn— 7Sport (@7Sport) August 2, 2022
Fellow Australian Jake Doran also advanced to the semis on Wednesday in 10.39.
"I have struggled a bit on the circuit this year and the losses really started to pile up," the 24-year-old Browning said.
"But I knew I had a run like that in me.
"I stumbled out of the blocks and it was far from the perfect race (but) it's by far my best run of the year."
Browning admitted his performance in Eugene was 'humiliating'.
"There's always that humiliation element when you get run out in the heats but you just try to bounce back from it and not take it to heart," said Browning, who went within a whisker of becoming the second Australian to break the 10-second mark when he stopped the clocked at 10.01 at last year's Tokyo Games.
"Just trust that the form is there, it's just in the execution. I think I've tapped into a good vein of form for these championships."
There was a tricky cross breeze at the Alexander Stadium for the opening session of the track and field, which made Browning's time even more impressive.
Reigning national champion Doran was also pleased to advance to the semis in second spot in his heat behind reigning Commonwealth champ Akani Simbine from South Africa (10.10).
"I was thinking to myself I can cut the jets here and then thought actually there is a Jamaican (Nigel Ellis) next to me so I probably should run through the line," said Doran.
"I'm just happy to finish that race in one piece and get ready for tomorrow."
Yupun Abeykoon of Sri Lanka was the fastest qualifier in 10.06.
So much pressure and expectation on his back but @Rohan_Browning pulls it out of the bag in a BIG way. Get it 👊🏼👊🏼 #CommonwealthGames2022 @7Sport
— Erin Holland (@erinvholland) August 2, 2022
great signs!
— Kieran Pender (@KieranPender) August 2, 2022
Good to see @Rohan_Browning back to sprinting fast again!! Well done
— Sally Pearson OAM (@sallypearson) August 2, 2022
Rohan Browning looked slick. Confidence up, go get em brother #CommonwealthGames2022
— Ryan Fitzgerald (@FitzySA) August 2, 2022
Absolute gun 💪
— Nick Flanagan (@OzSpurs11) August 2, 2022
This kid has what it takes to go sub 10.
Exciting prospect. Great start helps.— Shmick 2.0 🇦🇺 (@ShmickBackup) August 2, 2022
Hold up, commonwealth games are on and @Rohan_Browning is racing? Let me turn on the TV for the 1st time since the Olympics
— Carela 🌚 (@carela_hello) August 2, 2022
Aussies shine on the track at Commonwealth Games
Five-time Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah from Jamaica clocked the equal-quickest time of 10.99 in the opening round of the women's 100m.
Australians Naa Anang (11.37) and Bree Masters (11.41) also advanced.
Australian record holder Catriona Bisset did extremely well to finish second in a stacked heat of the women's 800m in 2:00.40, behind England's Olympic and world championships silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson, qualifying automatically for Saturday's final.
Georgia Griffith was eliminated despite running 2:00.36, her fastest time of the year.
Gold Coast Commonwealth Games silver medallist Henry Frayne needed only one jump of 7.85m to progress straight through to the men's long jump final on Wednesday.
But fellow Australian Chris Mitrevski did it tougher, needing a final-round effort of 7.76m to advance.
India's Murali Sreeshankar had the best qualifying leap of 8.05m.
Matthew Denny cruised through men's discus qualifying with 64.63m and shapes as the man to beat in Thursday's final.
with AAP
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