Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010: Australia Finishes With Two Medals in Marathon
New Delhi – Michael Shelley and Lisa Weightman of Australia, after a tough competition, have finally succeeded in bagging the marathon medals at Delhi commonwealth games. Shelly, though had been at eighth position till the halfway and was 34 seconds behind
the leading group at 30km mark, he finally finished it with a silver, carving the best ever marathon for his country after Steve Moneghetti won gold in 1994.
On other hand, while competing for women’s marathon, Weightman kept her pace throughout the competition. Although, she too seemed like giving up at the half way, but later on the girl gathered the courage and made it to the bronze in two hours, thirty five
minutes and twenty five seconds.
In men’s marathon, John Kelai and Amos Matui crossed the finishing line for first and third position and in women’s competition, Irene Kosgei and Irene Mogake titled the first and second positions. With Kenyan players grabbing two gold medals in marathon,
this was for the first time in the history of the commonwealth games that Kenya has surpassed Australia on the athletics medal table.
In athletics, Kenya topped the medal table by bagging 11 gold’s, 10 silvers and 8 bronze medals. However, Australia stood second by holding 11 gold, 6 silvers and three bronze medals.
Shelley, who was participating in the second marathon of his life had made it to the finishing line in two hours, thirteen minutes and five seconds at Rotterdam in April, however, his lack of experience did not pose any serious hindrance for bagging a silver
at Delhi Commonwealth Games.
At finishing line, Shelley was perhaps the only non African among the top five as he picked off all of them except the gold medallist Kelai. The 27 years old Shelley dedicated his silver medal to his family who had extended him massive support when he had
lost at Australian Institute of sport scholarship owing to his injury a couple of years ago.
Sharing his views, Shelley told the media personnel that he was having second thoughts about participating into event, but his family fully supported him and told him that he had to go too far before getting retired. Pondering upon the marathon day, he said
that he had considerable support throughout the day. As there was only a distance of 400 meters between him and the leading athletes, it provided him enough energy to remain motivated.
When it came to around 35 kilometres, said the young runner, he was getting constant cheers from the other Australian athletes. He said that as most of the runners started slowing down at 35 kilometres, this too boosted up his courage to get going.
Among other athletes, Countryman Martin finished sixth in two hours twenty minutes and nineteen seconds, while Jeff Hunt performed rather disappointedly as he finished at two hours, twenty five minutes and nineteen seconds for the thirteenth position.
Hunt, while talking to the media said that he wanted to make it to the medal, and at a point, he thought he could have made it rather easily, but then his bad day started and things became quite difficult for him to sustain his pace. While complementing
Michael and Marty, he said that both of them ran really well, he said that it was a good day for Australia, but it was a bad day for him.
For Weightman, winning a bronze medal in women’s race had enhanced her reputation to be picked up for major marathon championships. Though she had finished 33rd at Beijing Olympic and ended up at 18 at world championship in Berlin, her performance
at Delhi commonwealth games was rather remarkable. It proved that she had the potential to be polished further.
Weightman’s performance at Delhi games has provided a reason to Australia to feel proud. This is so because the country has been consecutively winning medals in marathons for last five commonwealth games. Commenting upon her success, Weightman said that
it could have been wonderful had she won the gold medal, she said that she come there to try and ended up with winning a bronze.
Tags: