Kerr leaps to gold medal

Hamish Kerr produced a career highlight by winning the Commonwealth Games high jump gold medal at Alexander Stadium.

The lanky Christchurch jumper cleared all his heights at first attempt, including at 2.25m.

Australian Brandon Starc also cleared 2.25m, but he dipped out to Kerr because he’d had two misses along the way.

Both Kerr and Starc failed in all three attempts at 2.28m.

“It feels awesome. I’m stoked,” Kerr said. “I came here knowing I had some good form in my legs, and that’s how it played out. I got my first attempts and got into the swing of things.”

Kerr, 25, said that even though Starc was missing some attempts he was never complacent about beating the Australian.

“Starc is a prolific third attempter. He looks like he’s struggling and then he gets over, so I was never counting him out until I saw he’d missed his third attempt.”

Besides the fireworks that Kerr provided there were two other memorable performances by New Zealand athletes.

Aucklander Maddy Wesche claimed a bronze medal in the women’s shot put.

The 23-year-old’s best throw was 18.84m, which left her not far off gold medallist Sarah Mitton of Canada, whose best put was 19.03m

And 100m sprinter Zoe Hobbs moved into territory not often traversed by New Zealand sprinters when she qualified sixth for the final of the women’s 100m.

Her semi-final time was 11.15s, which meant she was sixth fastest qualifier for the final.

In the final Hobbs was slightly down on that time. She ran 11.19s which placed her sixth. The 100m winner was Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica, who was timed at 10.95s.