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Rohan Browning makes history in 100m final at Commonwealth Games

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·4-min read
Rohan Browning, pictured here becoming the first Australian man in 12 years to reach to the 100m final at the Commonwealth Games.
Rohan Browning became the first Australian man in 12 years to reach to the 100m final at the Commonwealth Games. Image: Channel 7/Getty

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.

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.

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.

Brandon Starc and Hamish Kerr, pictured here following the men's high jump final at the Commonwealth Games.
Brandon Starc and Hamish Kerr celebrate following the men's high jump final at the Commonwealth Games. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) (David Ramos via Getty Images)

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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