Jason Smyth.
Derry sprinter Jason Smyth begins his quest for Commonwealth Games honours in Glasgow this afternoon.
The 27-year-old, from Eglinton, will run in lane five when he competes in heat four of the 100 metres scheduled to take place in Hampden Park at 2.58pm.
Smyth’s season has been hampered by a hamstring injury but he runs to his full potential, he has a good chance of qualifying as only three of those he is up against this afternoon – England’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Kemar Hyman from the Cayman Islands and Antoine Adams from St Kitts and Nevis – have posted faster times than him this season.
And nerves should not affect the Derry sprinter, who is registered blind, as he is familiar with big sporting occasions, having won gold medals in the 100 and 200 metres T13 at the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008, repeating the feat four years later in London.
He also won both events at the IPC Athletics World Championships held in Lyon, France, last year.
Smyth will also compete in the 200 metres and 4 x 100 metres relay at the Games.
The line-up for this afternoon’s 100m heat is:
Lane 1: Kemar Hyman (aged 24), Cayman Islands – SB (seasonal best) 10.16, PB (personal best) 9.55
Lane 2: Kapun Wisil (29), Papua New Guinea – SB 10.76, PB 9.59
Lane 3: Joshua Jermiah (27), Nauru -SB 11.25, PB 11.25
Lane 4: Bruno Matsenjwa (26), Swaziland – SB 10.51, PB 10.43
Lane 5: Jason Smyth (27), Northern Ireland – SB 10.40, PB 10.22
Lane 6: Antoine Adams (25), St Kitts and Nevis – SB 10.01, PB 10.01
Lane 7: Courtney Williams (23), St Vincent and The Grenadines – SB 10.60, PB 10.60
Lane 8: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (25), England – SB 10.08, PB 10.08
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