GLASGOW (SportingAlert) — Jamaica’s Kemar Bailey-Cole qualified fastest for the final of the men’s 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games.
Bailey-Cole was very impressive when winning the last semi-finals on the day and he looked like the favourite to win the gold medal.
England’s Adam Gemili sped home in 10.07 seconds to clock the second quickest time going into the final, after being Jamaica’s Jason Livermore, who was second in 10.11.
“I just need to recover between now and the final. I made it a bit harder for myself with the start I had but I came through,” Gemili told BBC One.
“I try to relax as much as I can. I like to enjoy the crowd but as soon as I get on the blocks I just get my focus.”
Warren Fraser from the Bahamas won the opening semi-finals in 10.21secs, but it was a very slow time for a semis at a major championship, while Jamaican champion Nickel Ashmeade finished second in the same time.
BBC Sport athletics commentator Steve Cram and pundit Michael Johnson weren’t too impressed by the opening semi-finals.
“That was a very odd semi-final,” Cram said. “We were expecting fireworks and people to really push on, but no-one did.”
Johnson added: “I expected more from Nickel Ashmeade, and there is surely a lot more to come for him.”
Richard Thompson, the fastest man in the Commonwealth this season, failed to make the final.
