Davies ignites athletics program with 10,000m gold in Glasgow

Middle-distance runner and New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Rose Davies has etched her name into Commonwealth Games history with 10,000m gold on the opening night of competition at Scotstoun Stadium, lighting a fire on what looms as a historic campaign for Australian athletics in Glasgow.

Racing 25 laps of the track, Davies delivered a masterclass in the tactical affair which saw her open Australia’s medal tally in Athletics and Para Athletics at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. 

Stopping the clock in a time of 31:39.32, the Newcastle product took down the might of East Africa when finishing ahead of silver medallist Diana Wanza (KEN) and bronze medallist Florence Niyonkuru (RWA) – the winning margin over 10-seconds. 

“I have just had so much consistency and every race I have grown. I have shown that I belong here and I have been running good times, I’ve just been chipping away,” Davies said.

After a pedestrian start, Davies only the front for the first time in the final kilometre after reeling in the breakaway leader, commencing her defiant charge for home and history.

“I just stayed patient and backed myself in,” Davies said.

“You have to back yourself in no matter how fast other girls are. I have been training really well and racing really well, so there was no reason why I couldn’t. I just kept reminding myself of that.” 

Fellow Australian Lauren Ryan trailed in fifth place, battling valiantly for the bronze over the closing laps to cross the line in 31:59.41 as Australia flexed its form as a middle-distance force. 

Rising star Ullrich Muller added silver to the opening day when securing the first international medal of his career, blazing to a time of 11.19 (+0.2) to finish behind Paralympic champion Thomas Young (ENG) who won gold in 11.11-seconds. 

Muller was followed by 15-year-old teammate Thomas McGough, who impressed with fourth place on debut, clocking 11.74-seconds.

“I’m thrilled! I was racing against my biggest competitor and I almost won the gold, but I’m very happy with the silver,” Muller said.

“That’s my best race yet, I’m definitely pleased. I couldn’t imagine a better race.” 

The Women’s 100m T38 featured three Australians and a close call for Rhiannon Clarke, who finished in fourth place in a time of 12.94 (+1.4), followed by Ella Pardy in fifth (13.48) and Briseis Brittain in sixth (13.50).

Adding to the Para Athletics success was Archer Hewett who raced to fourth place in the Men’s 1500m T20 in 4:07.71, followed by teammate Daniel Milone in eighth place. 

Yual Reath cleared 2.10m to finish seventh in the Men’s High Jump, while the Women’s Shot Put F55-57 saw Julie Charlton and Ainsley Hooker thow 6.19m and 5.40m for seventh and eighth placings respectively.

Australia’s fastest woman Torrie Lewis stole the show as the nation’s sprinters delivered a flawless morning in the 100m heats. Lewis qualified second quickest from the heats, in a time of 11.15 (+2.4) ahead for tomorrow’s semi-finals 

Lewis was pleased with the performance but quickly turned her attention to the next round, where she will be joined by Ebony Lane and Georgia Harris who also progressed in times of 11.50 (+0.9) and 11.51 (0.0).

Edward Nketia’s Australian debut did not disappoint when bringing the heat to an otherwise typical Glasgow day, finishing in second place of Heat 11 in 10.07 (+3.9), while Rohan Browning (NSWIS) also booked a date with day two in 10.24 (+1.8).

Australia’s qualification success was not limited to the track, as hammer throwers Lara Roberts and Stephanie Ratcliffe launched to distances of 66.73m and 65.73m to finish in third and fifth ahead of tomorrow’s final. 

Long jumpers Christopher Mitrevski and Liam Adcock both did enough to reach the final. Mitrevski’s 7.89m (+1.8) saw him qualify in fourth for Tuesday’s final  as Adcock leapt to 7.75m (+2.5), while the Women’s 800m heats saw Sarah Billings clinch a dominant victory in 2:01.51.

The Athletics and Para Athletics will continue tomorrow at Scotstoun Stadium, with the first event scheduled for 10:00am local time.