Lauren Bruce comes to grips with failing to make the women’s hammer throw final at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Lauren Bruce walked through the mixed zone, wiping away tears as she came to terms with what’d just unfolded at Alexander Stadium.
She’d just bombed out of the Commonwealth Games, after failing to register a legitimate throw in the women’s hammer on Thursday night (NZT).
There’d been more tears on the field – the result of three no-throws – including one she flung into the net.
Unsurprisingly, the New Zealand women’s record holder was devastated, knowing the 68m distance required to automatically book a spot in Sunday morning’s final should have been a breeze.
After all, no athlete in the 17-strong field in Birmingham, including fellow Kiwi and Commonwealth Games reigning champion Julia Ratcliffe, had thrown further than her 74.61m best.
Bruce didn’t even need to clear 68m, not when the best 12 performers advance to the finals – she essentially just needed to land an attempt.
But, after opening her account with a foul and launching her second into the net, the under-pressure 25-year-old’s third attempt sailed wide of the sector.
The Oceania champion and national champion was eliminated.
Alastair Grant/AP
Lauren Bruce was cut up after failing to register a legitmate throw and exiting the Commonwealth Games women’s hammer throw.
If that wasn’t galling enough, the fact a 59.53m effort from Malaysian Xei Mei Grace Wong was enough to make the final would have been.
“I’m really gutted not to have Lauren in the final, too. I know she’ll be really disappointed,” Ratcliffe said after qualifying second for the final with a 68.73m heave.
Fellow Kiwi Nicole Bradley also booked a spot in the final, courtesy of a 61.77m effort (eighth best).
Athletes are required to walk through the mixed zone after competing, but are not obligated to stop and speak to media.
Bruce, the only athlete to fail to record a legitimate throw, carried on walking as she came to grip with her shocking exit.
Simon Stacpoole
Kiwi Sam Tanner, centre, got clipped a couple of times but managed to stay on his feet and qualify for the 1500m final at the Commonwealth Games.
It was an otherwise successful morning session for Kiwi athletes, with Sam Tanner qualifying for the 1500m final, and Keeley O’Hagan leaping into the women’s high jump decider.
Needing a top-five finish in the second of two heats for automatic qualification, Tanner finished strongly in a significantly slower race than the first.
Boxed in and clipped a couple of times, he managed to stay on his feet and kick when it mattered, finishing fifth in 3min 48.65sec.
“Couple of times I was having to bob and weave and get through different athletes. Lucky I’m skinny. Ohh, it was fun,” Tanner said after snaring a spot in Sunday morning’s final.
Simon Stacpoole/Photosport
Keeley O’Hagan was all smiles after qualifying for the women’s high jump final.
“I knew what I was doing. I had enough in the tank that if I needed to go I could go. I was kind of looking around, counting, ‘yeah, I think I’m good’.”
The day after training partner Hamish Kerr became the first Kiwi man to win a high jump medal (gold) at the Games, O’Hagan’s 1.81m clearance was enough to send her into Saturday night’s 12-strong final.
O’Hagan, a three-time national champion, has a career best of 1.88m.
“Hamish’s gold definitely inspired me to do the best that I can, and in the final I want to go out there and attempt a personal-best height, if not break it. If I do that, I will be happy.”
Discus thrower Connor Bell will contest the men’s final on Friday morning (7.35am), after Portia Bing lines up in the 400m hurdles qualifying rounds (6.38am).
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