Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s coverage of day nine of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
With the action drawing to a close, there are a few medals left to hand out and today we will see what is likely to be great entertainment on the tracks, fields and fields of England’s second city.
Today’s highlights include some track finals.
In the men’s 1,500, Scotland’s Jake Wightman will be looking to back up his World Championships gold medal with another at Alexandra Stadium. He is the favorite for the event and will no doubt be keen to improve on his bronze medal from the Gold Coast four years ago. Also in the running are his compatriots Josh Kerr and Neil Gourley, and for England Elliot Giles and Matthew Stonier will keep the hopes alive at home.
Wightman’s father and coach Geoff will again be on commentary duties as the England-born but Edinburgh-raised star aims for gold for Scotland. This race is to see your lunch with a start time of 1.10.
In the evening, Laura Muir and Keely Hodgkinson go into the women’s 800m final, looking to make it a double gold for Scotland in the middle distance (depending on how Wightman does earlier…), Zharnel Hughes runs for England in the men’s 200m final, and Beth Dobbin will carry Scotland’s hopes in the women’s 200m.
Above all, there are the T20 semi-finals, the men’s hockey semi-finals and the men’s bowls final. Northern Ireland’s Gary Kelly faces Malaysia’s Fairul Izwan Abd Muin in the first half, with Scotland’s Ian McLean facing Australia’s Aaron Wilson in the other half.
All this a day after history was made when Scotland’s George Miller became the oldest gold medalist in Games history when Scotland defeated Wales in the mixed B2/B3 doubles.
Miller, 75, is the manager of visually impaired footballer Melanie Innes, who along with Robert Barr and his head coach Sarah Jane beat Wales 16-9 in the final at Victoria Park, Lymington Spa.
“A year ago I never dreamed I’d be here. I got a call and almost fell off my chair to be honest. Here we are – where do we go from here?” Miller told the BBC.
“Cups are easier for older people, but any sport…football, rugby, whatever you can. Get out there and practice, play games and compete. It’s great at whatever age you are.”
Miller took the record as the oldest gold medalist from Rosemary Lenton, also of Scotland, who at the age of 72 won gold in the Para women’s pairs last Wednesday.
