EMMAS FAST EFFORT ENDS TRACK STINT FOR NI
14 April 2018
Emma Mitchell produced the second-quickest time of her career to finish 13th in a high-calibre 5000 metres at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday.
The 24-year-old from County Down ran 16:02.80 to impress in a final in which reigning world champion Hellen Obiri and compatriot Margaret Kipkemboi completed a Kenyan 1-2 with England’s Laura Weightman snaring bronze.
But Mitchell, who was 15th in the 10000m final earlier in the Games, was pleased to finish on a high on the last session of track and field action at Carrara Stadium.
“I put in two really strong races back-to-back and I was delighted to be out there on that stage,” she said. It was a strange race but it was a fantastic experience and I left absolutely everything on that track. I’m walking away with my head held high.
“You want to come to these championships in your best shape and I’ve shown that I have a long way to go before the European Championships in August and that’s exciting. I’ll take so many positive from these Games into my next races.”
2017 Commonwealth Youth Games champion Sommer Lecky came equal tenth in the high jump with a best clearance of 1.80 metres on her third attempt.
The 17-year-old from Co. Tyrone bowed out at 1.84m, with St, Lucia’s Lavern Spencer clearing 1.95m to take gold, ahead of England’s Morgan Lake and Australia’s Nikki McDermott
"It was great to compete at the Games and I've had so much support from my coach, and my mum and dad,” Lecky said. “I will take a lot from this experience. Now I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season."
The final two members of Northern Ireland’s athletics team at Gold Coast 2018, Paul Pollock and Kevin Seaward, take part in the marathon on the final morning of the Games (Saturday 2315 BST).