Gold Coast 2018: Isis Holt leads hosts' golden charge

Isis Holt helped Australia extend their lead at the top of the Commonwealth Games medals table with victory in the Gold Coast on Wednesday (11 April).

Holt, who won double gold at last year’s World Championships, never looked in doubt as she took the win in the women’s 100m T35, exploding out of the blocks before speeding clear of the field to cross the line in 13.58.

The Australian had arrived at the Gold Coast in terrific form and was favourite to win, having lowered her own world record* mark at the Australian Junior Championships last month – but victory on home soil still left her speechless.

“I think now it’s slowly beginning to hit me. This race meant so much to me and is has for so long. Now being able to come out here and run it and win it, I don’t really believe what I’m saying, but it’s an amazing feeling,” said Holt, who finished ahead of Scotland’s Maria Lyle (15.14) and Australian Brianna Coop (15.63).

The chance to add to Australia’s medal tally – they sit top of the athletics medal standings with eight gold, eight silver and six bronze - clearly delighted the Melbourne teenager too.

“It’s so special, especially considering this is an integrated team with able-bodied and Para athletes,” she told BBC Sport.

“All medals are the same medals and they all mean the same thing – that’s just such an incredible feeling, I can’t begin to say how much of a privilege it is to be up against some incredible athletes, and to be a medallist among them is even better.”

Earlier, reigning world champion Cameron Crombie had notched up another gold for the host nation, winning the shot put F38 with a best of 15.74m in the third round. All but one of Crombie’s throws surpassed the 15-metre mark which proved too good for the rest of the field.

Fellow Australian Marty Jackson (13.74m) threw a season’s best for silver, while South African Reinhardt Hamman (13.15m) put paid to an Aussie clean sweep, finishing in third place ahead of Canberra Para athlete Jayden Sawyer.

The fifth day of track and field action (Thursday 12 April) includes the men’s 100m T12, where South Africa’s world and Paralympic silver medallist Ndodomzi Ntutu will be the man to beat, and the women’s 100m T38 featuring England’s Sophie Hahn, the world and Paralympic champion.

*World record mark is subject to ratification by the IPC