Updated at 23.00
IRISH OLYMPIAN LISA Kearney has won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this evening.
Kearney won in the Judo 52kg category, claiming the first medal for Team NI in the process, as she beat Canada’s Audree Francis-Methot.
The bronze medal event was Kearney’s third of the day after winning her quarter-final against Sinothanda Mva, but an hour later, the 25-year-old was unable to get the better of England’s Kelly Edwards.
Sycerika McMahon reached the semi-finals of the 50m breaststroke and narrowly missed out on a spot in the last eight after finishing fifth in her race. The Texas-based swimmer had been due to go on the blocks in the 200m freestyle heats earlier — where young hopefuls Danielle Hill and Rachel Bethel were eliminated in the first heat — but did not start that event.
That trio were joined by Paralympian Bethany Firth for the 4 x 100m relay, but were unable to come anywhere near the scorching, world record breaking pace of the Australian women.
Bronte Campbell, Melanie Schlanger, Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell powered to victory in a time of 3:30.98. The record 0.74 seconds quicker than the previous mark set by the Netherlands at the 2009 World Championships – when ‘fastsuits’ were in full force in the sport.
Gemma Kane made the first cut to reach the 100m butterfly semi-finals and Jordan Sloan reached the same stage of the men’s 100m backstroke. However, neither managed to improve on that feat.
Aileen Reid was one of Northern Ireland’s big hopes for a medal at these games, but in a very competitive triathlon field, the world number 12 finished sixth in a time of 1:59;46. The time was 35 seconds off third-placed Vicky Holland, and 50 off the winner, world number two, Jodie Stimpson.
Legend. This girls gonna be special.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: she already is
@Thomas Paine: she will only get better with age
Mind blown – that is incredible. Well done.
Maybe if I add a fall into my 5km I’d go faster..?
@Augustus hoop: I’d need to accidentally fall into a car
An outstanding achievement. But she needs to be coached correctly and not pushed too hard too soon. She is after all a child and needs to develop and train as a child and not as an adult. If she is pushed too hard now, she will get injured, burn out and have nowhere to step up to in the coming years, and will ultimately fall out of love with the sport.
@Niall Hearty: Thank you Captain Buzzkill
@Niall Hearty: Yeah, thats what happened to me when I was 5.
Insane
Brilliant stuff. One for the future