New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs captured a historic gold medal in the women’s 100m at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 28, running a personal best and Oceania record of 10.93 seconds. England’s Amy Hunt secured silver in sodden conditions, while Australia’s Torrie Lewis claimed bronze in a tightly contested final.
Zoe Hobbs Wins Women’s 100m Gold at Scotstoun Stadium
The track at Scotstoun Stadium played host to a dramatic night of sprinting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, as unrelenting rain battered Glasgow and turned conditions treacherous for competitors. Running from lane seven, Zoe Hobbs delivered a sensational performance to claim New Zealand’s first-ever gold medal in the 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games, crossing the line in 10.93 seconds (setting a new Oceania record) according to the published results.
England’s Amy Hunt pushed hard through the adverse weather to take the silver medal in 10.98 seconds, while Australia’s Torrie Lewis ran an Australian record of 10.99 to round out the podium with bronze. Although six of the ten fastest 100m women in the Commonwealth this year did not start, the top three finishers all broke the 11-second barrier despite the driving rain. Earlier in the semi-finals, Jonielle Smith ran 11.07 seconds and Jodean Williams qualified for the final after both finished third in their respective semi-final heats.
Men’s 100m Final Brings Record-Breaking Drama and Wet Weather Woes
Emmanuel Eseme Wins Men’s 100m Final as Lachlan Kennedy Takes Silver
In the men’s 100m final, Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme denied Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy in a thrilling charge to the line. Kennedy held the lead for the vast majority of the race before suffering a slight stutter moments before the finish, allowing Eseme to surge past and take gold in a Commonwealth Games record time of 9.83 seconds.
Zoe Hobbs wins gold in Women's 100m at Commonwealth games 2026 beating Amy Hunt & Torrie Lewis
Kennedy secured the silver medal and set a new Australian record of 9.85 seconds, while Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi earned bronze in 9.90 seconds. Wales’s Jeremiah Azu finished fifth in 10.03. For Jamaica, the semifinal stage brought mixed results as Jonielle Smith and Jodean Williams advanced to the women’s final, but both Ackeem Blake and Rohan Watson failed to progress in the men’s division, marking the second straight staging where no Jamaican men contested the 100m final. Ackeem Blake finished third in the third semifinal in 10.06 seconds, while Rohan Watson placed sixth in the first heat with 10.12 seconds. Defending champion Ferdinand Omanyala also failed to advance after finishing sixth in his heat in 10.19 seconds.
Athletes Battle Flooded Lanes and Freezing Temperatures in Glasgow
Weather Conditions Disrupt Scotstoun Stadium Track and Field Events
Weather dominated the atmosphere at Scotstoun Stadium, bearing a closer resemblance to late October than the height of summer. Heavy surface water heavily affected runners in the inner lanes during the earlier heats and semifinals, as lanes one, two, and three lacked roof protection.
Photo: olympics.com
“There was water all over the lane,” said Jones, a part-time sprinter who works as football operations manager at Uefa. “When I got in the blocks I was pushing water out my lanes, then there was a false start and the water all came back. It’s a Scottish summer, isn’t it?”
Photo: Jamaica Observer
Elliot Jones, Uefa football operations manager and sprinter
Field events faced even harsher disruptions. High jumpers sought shelter under winter coats and umbrellas between attempts, while the Indian 19-year-old Asian champion Pooja Singh wore a thick coat, a woolly hat, and gloves. Officials fought a largely losing battle with huge squeegee rollers designed to suck up water from the infield before the women’s high jump was forced to halt for nearly 90 minutes. The women’s hammer throw also started on time, but the wet weather affected competitors’ grip as Scotland’s Angela McAuslan-Kelly and Australia’s Stephanie Ratcliffe both found the protective net with their early throws before England’s Charlotte Payne found the field.
Looking Ahead to the Remaining Glasgow Events
Remaining Glasgow Track and Field Events Face Tight Turnarounds
With the opening sprint medals decided, attention turns to how athletes will manage recovery and performance if Glasgow’s persistent rain continues to affect venue conditions. Competitors in upcoming track and field events face tight turnarounds as the Scotstoun Stadium schedule moves toward its closing days.
