It’s gold for Kirralee!
Swimming pictures courtesy Delly Carr - Swimming Australia
Kirralee Hayes, from Genesis Aquatic at Bray Park, has won a sensational gold medal at the Commonwealth Games this morning.
Hayes, from Deception Bay, took an early lead in the 50m freestyle S13 final and was never caught winning by almost a second.
Commentators on Channel 7 Plus described her swim as a “superb swim from start to finish. She is our Commonwealth champion”.
“What a swim Kirralee Hayes and a personal best time! Came up out of the water ahead and then just extended her lead.”
“What a moment for Kirralee Hayes.”
It’s a remarkable turnaround for the 22-year-old who won a bronze medal in this event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
She then had a two-year break from swimming before returning last year and getting back in the Dolphins team for the Glasgow games.
Hayes finished in 27.63 seconds, fractionally faster than the 27.69 seconds in qualifying for the final with the fastest time.
South Africa’s Danikea Vyncke was second in 28.41 seconds with Australia’s Jenna Jones third in 29.02.
Jye Dixon, from the All Star Boxing Academy at Lawnton, has stormed into the Commonwealth Games 55kgs semi-finals.
The referee stopped Dixon’s quarter-final against Bangladesh’s Md Rakib Hossain in the second round last night.
Dixon now faces Ghana’s Amadu Mohammed, 21, in the semi-finals at 12.30am on Saturday morning AEST.
The Brendale resident has impressed in Glasgow with unanimous victories and now a stoppage leading into the semis.
Former Redcliffe Little As member Liam Adcock is in the long jump final at 4.24am tomorrow.
Adcock was fifth in Group B and 11th overall in the long jump qualifying posting a best of 7.74m.
The top six from each group go into the 12-man final where Jamaican Tajay Gayle, who won Group B with 8.10m, will be favourite.
Adcock, who lived and went to school in Redcliffe, jumped well early season, posting 8.20m, but has reportedly been struggling with a niggling injury recently.
However, he will be hoping to rediscover the form which helped him win a Diamond League meeting last year and medal at the World Indoor Championships.
Sam Short is back in the pool tonight for the last two of his five events at the Commonwealth Games.
Short, from Bunya, has the 200m freestyle heats this evening and hopefully final at 4.21am tomorrow.
However, he appears to be spared a 1500m heat and is listed for the final at 5.44am tomorrow.
The former Albany Creek swimmer, already has gold medals from the 400m, 800m and 4x200m freestyle relay.
Former Bribie and Caboolture resident Lakeisha Patterson begins her Games this evening in the 100m freestyle S9.
The ex-Lawnton and Burpengary swimmer, now with the Paralympic Hub at Sippy Downs, is in heat two at 8.16pm tonight.
If she qualifies, Lucky’s final is at 5.09am tomorrow.