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02/08/2026 00:00, In Blog / Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games - Latest News /

The athletics programme at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games came to a spectacular end on Saturday night. Jake Heyward and Ava Lloyd finished fourth and sixth in their respective men’s and women’s mile finals, while Tom Walley was fifth in the pole vault.

Earlier in the day, Charlotte Henrich had finished fourth in the women’s 400m final and Team Wales captain Olivia Breen had received her T38 long jump gold medal in an emotional ceremony.

But, as the sun set over Scotstoun, one of the biggest cheers of the entire athletics programme welcomed the eight runners on to the track for the men’s mile final.

The Commonwealth Games had waited 60 years for the return of the legendary distance and what a line-up the expectant crowd had been served up.

Home favourites Josh Kerr – the new world record holder – and former World Champion Jake Wightman were top of the bill for the majority of the partisan crowd.

But all Welsh eyes were on Heyward – the man who had only returned to action in May after four years out of the sport due to injury – an absence which included  double Achillies surgery.

The Welsh record holder settled in at the back of the pack early on, but as they came through at the end of the first lap he was moving up to the top six.

At halfway, the Cardiff Athletics man moved briefly to the front as the field crossed the finishing line for the second time.

By the bell, the Welsh record holder was fourth as Kerr moved through the field and the Scotstoun crowd produced a noise which challenged the famous Hampden roar on the other side of the city.

Coming into the last 100m, Heyward was right up with the leaders and a fairytale medal appeared to be a possibility.

With 50 metres to go it looked as though he might overhaul fellow Tokyo Olympics finalist and silver medal winner Timothy Cheruiyot, of Kenya, for the bronze medal.

It wasn’t to be. The Welshman crossed the line in fourth place, clocking a time of 3.55.54 – just 0.13 of a second behind Cheruiyot.

The race was won by world record holder Kerr in 3:54.12, ahead of World Under-20 silver medallist Cameron Myers, of Australia in 3:55.26.

As blue and white fireworks erupted from the top of the main stand, Scotland had the result it had craved.

But Heyward’s return from career threatening injury to finish fourth in such a high quality field, led home by the world record holder is surely one of the stories of this championship.

The result meant Heyward upgraded the fifth place he achieved at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games before injury put his career on extended hold.

Also, his performance bodes well for his return to Birmingham where he will contest the 1500m at the European Athletics Championships – the event where he claimed a silver medal four years ago.

After the race, Heyward said:

“It was amazing to be a part of that. Being out for four years and watching it from home, you’re sat with the TV thinking ‘oh, I can be in the mix’. I think a lot of people write you off like there’s no chance of coming back.

“So to not run for 18 months, start again in January, to be at this point. Obviously, you know it’s gutting, I wanted to win a medal, I wanted to win a gold medal, but at least a medal.

“Being that close, it’s obviously tough to take. But it is what it is. That’s sport and we’ll move on to the next thing.

“It was there for the taking in hindsight. I had the ability to at least medal in that race and I think I made quite a lot of tactical errors and that probably shows a lack of racing over the last four years.

“If there’s anyone at home looking at this, although I didn’t win the medal, I really hope that this gives inspiration that they can come back from what they want.”

Next up – and closing a thrilling athletic programme was the women’s mile, which like the men’s equivalent had two Scottish competitors in the shape of Sarah Calvert and Jemma Reekie.

In the women’s mile, Lloyd led the athletes out onto the track wearing Welsh flag ribbons in her hair.

With Scotland’s duo at one and two in a modestly paced first lap, Lloyd was tucked in just behind them. The leisurely pace continued at the start of the second 400 with the field bunching markedly.

Halfway through the third lap, the pace began to increase with Lloyd staying with the pacemakers.

At the bell she had dropped back slightly, but was still there or there abouts as the speed was upped once again.

Coming down the final straight Lloyd was giving everything she had and moved up to sixth place just before the finishing line, which she crossed in sixth place in 4:40.73 a promising return for the 20-year-old on her Commonwealth Games debut.

Ahead of her, Australia were celebrating a clean sweep of the medals with Abbey Cauldwell leading the way in 4:39.31, ahead of compatriots Jessica Hull in 4:39.86 and Claudia Hollingsworth in 4:40.20.

Asked how she felt about a top six finish in the final, Lloyd said:

“I’m definitely super happy to finish that high up. In retrospect, being that close, you can’t help but look back and be like ‘oh my God’! But I’m coming out of this championship really happy.”

Asked what it was like to wear the red of Wales at the games, Lloyd said:

“It’s amazing, I just felt so proud to be on the start line. And I just know how much it means to me and it means to my family for me to step out there in this vest.

“Definitely a first major championship to remember.”

As the final Welsh athlete to compete, Walley had sat out the first five days of the track and field schedule to make his debut at the games.

After his long wait, the nine-time Welsh Champion was in no mood to delay any further and entered the competition at the first height - 4.90m - soaring over the bar with plenty to spare.

It was the perfect jump to settle any nerves especially as the billowing flags atop the Scotstoun stands illustrated the strength of the wind blowing across the stadium, adding an extra degree of difficulty to the competition.

As the bar was raised to 5.10m, Walley was in fourth position. However there was a long way to go with five athletes yet to enter the competition.

Walley’s first attempt at 5.10m seemed to have plenty of height, but the Welshman dislodged the bar as he descended.

However, after a brief visit to the coaches area, his second attempt was successful and the Wrexham AC athlete punched the air in delight as he left the landing mat. The success left him in joint fourth place.

With the height going up to 5.30m, Walley’s first attempt saw him pull out in mid-air, registering a first failure.

The second attempt saw the 28-year-old go agonisingly close to success as he clipped the bar with his torso. For a split second, it looked like it would stay on the stand, before frustratingly falling to the ground.

Two failures meant Walley’s next attempt was do or die. Once again, he flicked the bar, but this time it stayed in position and the Wrexham football fan lived to fight another day at 5.40m – five centimetres above his personal best.

As they say in these parts, Walley “gave it laldy” with his first attempt, but brushed the bar with just enough force to dislodge it. With a clear failure with his second attempt, he was once again in the last chance saloon.

This time there was no reprieve for the Welshman as a third failure meant his valiant challenge was over, guaranteed a fine fifth place.

The competition was won by Curtis Marschall, of Australia, who were enjoying a stellar day, with a games record of 5.85m. South Africa’s Kyle Rademeyer was second with 5.70, the same height as bronze medallist Owen Heard, of England.

A smiling Walley said afterwards:

“I’m very proud. It was so much fun. Like I said, I’d come out there with the aim of just enjoying it. I said if I enjoy it, I’ll perform well. And for me, that’s up there.

“I know I’ve got those next heights in me. A shame I couldn’t quite get it there, but it’s good signs.”

On the wait to compete, the athlete who wrapped himself in a Welsh dragon towel between each jump, added:

“I’d say midweek was pretty tough. I reached a point where I thought 'oh my God, there’s another four days to go’!

“But I’ve kept myself busy. It’s been great watching some of the other guys compete. I’ve been down the stadium watching, a bit of mini golf with Harrison (Walsh). Just ways to fill in the time.”

During the morning session, there was a huge cheer for European Under-20 champion Charlotte Henrich when she was introduced to the crowd in lane three of the women’s 400m final.

Recording the second fastest reaction time out of the blocks, Henrich got a good start, but Dejanea Oakley, of Jamaica, in the lane outside her, tore into the first bend and appeared to be moving away.

Lauren Gale, of Canada, on Henrich’s inside, also seemed to be running well as the athletes settled into the race on the back straight.

However, on the final bend, Henrich really started to motor putting her in contention of a podium place as the athletes surged down the home straight.

With a medal almost tantalisingly within reach, Henrich tried all she could to catch the leading three athletes, but ultimately the Welsh record holder crossed the line in fourth place in 51.16 – a performance for which she should be hugely proud.

The race was won by Dejanea Oakley, of Jamaica, in 50.21 with Sada Williams, of Barbados, second in 50.99 and Ella Onojuvwevwo third in 51.00 – just ahead of Henrich.

Commenting on finishing fourth at her first Commonwealth Games, the 19-year-old, Charlotte Henrich said:

“I really can’t complain. I’m happy. I can’t be upset with that.”

On the subject of wearing the Welsh vest at her first major senior championships, the Welsh record holder, who was born and raised in France, was delighted especially for her grandparents who hail from Carmarthen.

“It’s amazing! My grandparents watching, I’m so proud.

“Wales is such a unique place. It’s just different. I’m really proud to be Welsh and represent us. The opportunity to do that - and especially for my grandparents to watch

Earlier in the morning there was a gold medal ceremony for the Welsh fans in the stadium to enjoy.

Like Aled Davies’ ceremony earlier in the week, it was an emotional moment as the Team Wales captain Olivia Breen (City of Portsmouth) stepped up on to the presentation podium.

This, of course was her second trip to the podium in these games having won silver in the 100m. But this time she would be climbing on to the top step as she had previously done on the Gold Coast in 2018 and in Birmingham four years ago

Just to add to the occasion, Breen’s medal was presented to her by the Team Wales Chef de Mission Gethin Jones.

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau then filled the air around Scotstoun Stadium and the Welsh dragon was raised above Australian flags on either side honouring silver medallist Layla Sharp, who pushed Breen so close in the final, and 15-year-old bronze medallist Ayla Kowalczyk.

After the ceremony, a delighted Breen walked the length of the main stand draped in the Welsh flag, enjoying the applause of the crowd in general and stopping to receive personal well-wishes from familiar faces she spotted in the stand.

RESULTS