Rohan Browning makes history in 100m final at Commonwealth Games
Rohan Browning has become the first Australian man in 12 years to make the 100m final at the Commonwealth Games, before narrowly missing out on a medal.
The 24-year-old was impressive in the first of three semi-finals on Wednesday, crossing the line in second place in 10.17 seconds to advance to the final.
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The sprint sensation then burst out of the blocks in the final and was eyeing Australia's first medal in the event in 60 years.
However he couldn't hold on and finished in sixth place - a remarkable achievement nonetheless.
Rohan Browning gave it everything!
He finishes sixth in the 100m final, with Ferdinand Omanyala taking it out in 10.02.@eBayAU | #EveryonesAWinner pic.twitter.com/gUKfW5NGAY— 7Sport (@7Sport) August 3, 2022
Browning stopped the clock in 10.20 - slower than his opening-round heat time of 10.10 and his semi-final effort.
Speaking to Channel 7 after the race, Browning was clearly disappointed despite his historic showing.
"I'm not satisfied," he said.
"It would have been nice to get on the podium but I've got a lot to take away from this."
The youngster admitted he almost didn't compete at the Commonwealth Games after failing to make it out of the heats at the recent world championships in Oregon.
"After world champs I thought about almost packing (the season) in, because the shape wasn't there," he said.
Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya claimed the gold in 10.02 seconds, defending champ Akani Simbine from South Africa was second in 10.13 and Yupun Abeykoon from Sri Lanka took the bronze in 10.14.
The last Australian before Browning to contest the Commonwealth final in the blue-riband men's sprint was Aaron Rouge-Serret, who finished fifth at the 2010 Games in Delhi.
The only Australian man to win the Commonwealth 100m title was John Treloar in 1950.
Fans and commentators were left in awe of Browning's performance in Birmingham.
Great race from Rohan Browning but finishes outside the medals.
So good to see him in a big final like this. The more of these he competes in, the better he is going to get. #B2022 #CommonwealthGames https://t.co/Xw2Mbdhqaa— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) August 3, 2022
6th for @Rohan_Browning!!! What a great campaign!!! So close to being our first medalist in this event in 60 years! Bring on Paris 2024!!! 💪 https://t.co/FlXmlo0uD5
— Estrella Sports Management (@Estrella_Sports) August 3, 2022
Australia's first men's 100m finalist since 2010 and only our fourth in the last 30 years.
Rohan Browning - 6th in 10.20 (-0.9) 👏@CommGamesAUS #ThisIsAthletics #BoldInGold pic.twitter.com/uEtTPtm9Ev— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) August 3, 2022
You are an absolute champion, @Rohan_Browning ! A true athlete-academic, my hero!!! 😇😇🤩😎
— Tola`ath (@rosharonn) August 3, 2022
@Rohan_Browning well done Rohan 6th fastest in the Commonwealth
Big future mate!— PRGay22 🏳️🌈🇺🇦🌻 (@PRGay22) August 3, 2022
Congrats to @Rohan_Browning on a fantastic run!! So close! 💚💛 #BoldInGold #CommonwealthGames2022
— ᴇ ʀ ɪ ɴ (@Cardinal_Cipher) August 3, 2022
Unreal from @Rohan_Browning
👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼— Matt Lynch (@Mattlynch_) August 3, 2022
What an effort from Rohan Browning. 6th in a Commonwealth Games 100m Final. Just 0.07 off the Silver Medal 😩
If he gets a clean run at it, he will run sub 10 next season. Comfortably.— Tim Rosen (@timrosen35) August 3, 2022
Brandon Starc claims silver in high jump final
Meanwhile, Brandon Starc came up just short on Wednesday in his bid for a second successive Commonwealth high jump title.
Starc, who has battled a foot injury for much of the year, claimed the silver behind New Zealander Hamish Kerr after both cleared 2.25m.
Five-time Paralympic champion Evan O'Hanlon claimed a commanding victory in the men's T37-38 100m final in 11.23.
Scotland's Eilish McColgan produced the performance of the evening, storming home over the top of Kenyan Irine Cheptai in the final straight to win the women's 10,000m in a Games record of 30:48.60.
McColgan is the daughter of Scottish distance running great Liz McColgan, who won the same event at the 1986 and 1990 Commonwealth Games and the 1991 world championships.
Australian Izzi-Batt Doyle was eighth.
England's Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the 2019 world champion, won gold in the women's heptathlon with 6377 points.
Northern Ireland's Kate O'Connor was second, England's Jade O'Dowda was third and Australian Taneille Crase finished fifth (with a PB of 6026 points.
with AAP
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