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Smith propels himself into long jump final

Smith was third in his qualifying group and seventh-best overall

Tyrone Smith needed only two attempts to safely negotiate qualifying and advance to today’s Commonwealth Games long jump final at Hampden Park.

Smith jumped a season-best 7.87 metres in his second attempt to finish third in his group, and seventh overall, to claim one of the 12 places on offer for the final.

The 29-year-old admitted that he was relieved to have passed his first examination in Glasgow without any hiccups and felt confident going into the medal round.

“It doesn’t matter where you are, these qualifying rounds are always so difficult to negotiate,” said Smith, who finished fifth at the previous Commonwealth Games in New Delhi with a jump of 7.76.

“It’s always difficult to get yourself primed, as you know that you have to be at your best within three jumps.

“I’m just relieved that I was able to get through without having to save it until the last jump.”

By his own admission, Smith has not jumped as well has he would have liked this season, although he believes that he will rediscover his peak form when it matters most in Glasgow.

“I’m pretty excited about how I jumped this morning,” the two-times Olympian said. “It was a season best, which I’m not necessarily proud of, but you have to do what you have to do to get into the next round.

“I slowed down a bit with my first jump [7.60] when I was trying to be too relaxed. My next jump, I thought I’d just bring some speed and I just ran and jumped as far as I could.

“I was hoping to jump over 7.90, but I’ve qualified for the final and that’s the main thing.”

Smith said that he intended to relax his mind as much as possible when he returned to the Athletes’ Village to prevent any competition anxiety creeping in.

“I’m just going to try and stay relaxed and make sure I don’t psyche myself out,” he said. “I’ll probably just kick back, watch a movie and try and keep my mind off things. I don’t want to get too excited too early.”

Greg Rutherford, the Olympic champion from England, was the leading qualifier with his opening jump of 8.05 earning him an automatic passage to the final. He and the South African Rushwahl Samaai, with 8.03, were the only athletes to reach the qualifying mark of eight metres.

BERMUDA AT

THE GAMES

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS

ATHLETICS

Long jump

Qualifying group one

Tyrone Smith 7th, 7.87 metres

Qualified for final

Heptathlon

100 metres hurdles

Shianne Smith 9th, 14.95sec, 848pts

High jump

Shianne Smith 11th, 1.54 metres. 666pts

Shot

Shianne Smith 9th, 11.83 metres, 650pts

200 metres

Shianne Smith 8th, 25.23sec, 866pts

Overall

(after 4 of 7 events)

Shianne Smith 9th, 3,030pts

800 metres

Heat three

Shaquille Dill 5th, 1min 49.61

Qualified for semi-finals as a fastest loser

Heat four

Aaron Evans 1st, 1min 50.48sec

Qualified for semi-finals

SQUASH

Men’s doubles

Pool E

Micah Franklin and Nick Kyme lost to Campbell Grayson and Martin Knight (New Zealand) 11-5, 11-3

TODAY’S SCHEDULE

All times Bermuda

ATHLETICS

6.05am

Long jump qualifying

Arantxa King

6.44am

200 metres

First round

Heat seven

Tre Houston

7.50am

Heptathlon

Long jump

Shianne Smith

2.30pm

Heptathlon

Javelin

Shianne Smith

2.45pm

Long jump final

Tyrone Smith

4.55pm

800 metres semi-finals

Heat one

Shaquille Dill

5.02pm

Heat two

Aaron Evans