04122018 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018

Triple Jump, Page 13

Jamal Wilson clinches silver in the high jump

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net GOLD Coast, Australia — Jamal Wilson, winning his first international medal as a senior athlete, clinched the silver in the men’s high jump final for the Bahamas’ first medal at the XXI Commonwealth Games.

As he celebrated last night at the Carrara Stadium, Wilson even displayed some dance moves in the high jump bed to the delight of the crowd as he posted a season’s best leap

of 2.30 metres or 7-feet, 6 1/2inches to trail Australia’s Brandon Starc, who fed off the home crowd for a personal best of 2.32m (7-7 1/4) for the gold.

Despite suffering an injury during the competition, Canada’s Django Lovett won the bronze after he had fewer knockdowns than Donald Thomas, both

JAMAL Wilson proudly holds the national flag after winning silver yesterday in the high jump.

at 2.27m (7-5 1/4). Thomas, the 2010 Commonwealth Games champion in New Delhi, India, had to settle for fourth place.

“It feels excellent. Thank God. I want to thank my family, thank everyone who supported me. 242, this one is for you,” Wilson said. “I feel good. This is the first international medal that I got as a senior athlete and I want to just keep this moving forward and celebrate this one.

“Right now, I’m kind of lost for words, but thank God. I feel good about it.”

Miller-Uibo stumbles out of blocks, but still advances to the 200m final

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net GOLD Coast, Australia — Although she stumbled out of the blocks, national record holder Shaunae Miller-Uibo held off the late charge from Jamaica’s Olympic champion Elaine Thompson to breeze into the final of the women’s 200 metres.

However, Anthonique Strachan, now a training partner of Thompson in Jamaica, missed out on joining the Caribbean dominated field of eight competitors after her fourth place in her heat placed her 15th overall.

Miller-Uibo, the Olympic 400m champion and IAAF World Championship 200m bronze medallist, had the third fastest qualifying time of 22.48 as she pulled away from Thompson on the straight away in the second of two heats.

After pulling close to MillerUibo coming off the curve, Thompson couldn’t maintain it as Miller-Uibo used her 6-foot, 1-inch frame to surge for the tape.

Thompson had to settle for second in 22.97 - the sixth best time.

“It was a good race,” MillerUibo said. “It was a little bit sloppy, but hopefully I can fix it up for the final. But I feel fine bodywise and my mind is in it, so I’m going to go hard for it tomorrow (today).”

Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson heads into the final with the fastest qualifying time of 22.28, her lifetime best, while England’s Dina Asher-Smith had the second best with 22.44.

In the final at 9:38pm (Australian time) on Thursday, Miller-Uibo will run out of lane three ahead of England’s Bianca Williams and behind Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson. Jamaica will have three competitors as Thompson will run out of lane seven behind compatriot Shashalee Forbes in eight.

England will have two competitors with Dina Asher-Smith in six, Canadian Crystal Emmanuel will be in five and Trinidad & Tobago’s Semoy Hackett will occupy lane one. “I still have to get a good

GOLD Coast, Australia — All it took was one jump for Bianca ‘BB’ Stuart to soar her way into the final of the women’s long jump

Page 14

SEE PAGE 13

MCKINNEY: ‘EVERYTHING GOING GOOD’ FOR TEAM BAHAMAS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO, second right, of the Bahamas leads the field to the finish line yesterday during the 200m semifinal at Carrara Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Photo below by Dwayne Richards start. The first curve has to be perfect,” said Miller-Uibo, who was concerned about what she did in the semis. “I’m running with a bunch of pure sprinters, so I know once I get off the curve with them, I could finish up strong.”

Strachan, fourth in heat three in 23.62 for 15th overall, said she was pleased with her performance because she just changed coaches and she was able to improve on her start. “It was a great experience. I couldn’t ask for a better race even though it might not have been what I wanted,” said Strachan, the former double sprint World Jr champion. “I was hurt before I came here so I just wanted to know where I was.”

Having improved on some of her bad habits in the past, Strachan said she has noticed a difference in her performance since moving to Jamaica to train. “I think once I fix those little knacks, it would be better,” she said. But she admitted that it was hard running out of lane eight. “I was like don’t let nobody catch you. Don’t let nobody catch you,” she said.

Now that she’s done with her individual event, Strachan said she will concentrate on running the 4 x 100m with the heats Friday and final Saturday. She will join the pool that includes Miller-Uibo, V’Alonee Robinson, Tamara Myers, Katrina Seymour and Bianca Stuart.

In the men’s 200, Teray Smith got 4th in the last of three heats in 20.71 for 12th place overall. The top qualifier for Thursday’s final

was Canadian Aaron Brown in 20.18. “I just tried to get out and run,” Smith said. “It’s still early. I still have some things to fix up.”

Smith might be done with his individual event, but he will be in the pool for the men’s 4 x 400m relay that will have to run on Friday to get into the final on Saturday. The other members in the pool are Alonzo Russell, Stephen ‘Dirty’ Newbold, Michael Mathieu and Ramon Miller.

‘BB’ Stuart soars into final with one long jump

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

No doubt disappointed that his opportunity to get on the podium slipped away from him after he missed all three attempts at 2.30m (7-6 1/2), Thomas declined to give any comments.

He was tied with Lovett up to that point but because of less knockdowns, the Canadian broke up the much anticipated Bahamian double celebrations.

In the meantime, after clearing 2.30m (7-6 1/2), Wilson did a backward flip in the bed as he remained in

in the XXI Commonwealth Games at the Carrara Stadium yesterday.

After fouling her first two attempts, Stuart consulted with coach Peter Pratt and came back in her third and final attempt to land solid on the board for a leap of 6.27 metres or 20-feet, 7-inches to snatch the 11th out of the 12 spots for the final today.

“I just had a little bit of issues with my approach,” Stuart said.

“I was bringing a lot of speed. I guess I wasn’t getting my last two steps down, so I had to try and make an adjustment on the last jump to at least get on the board and try to make it to the final.”

Stuart, the 29-year-old national record holder, is hoping that she can come back tomorrow (today) and improve on her eighth place finish at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She feels if she can make adjustments like she did on her last jump, she could be able

BIANCA STUART to get into the top eight for the final three jumps to contend for her first Commonwealth Games medal.

“I tried to come down aggressive, but I felt that I was going too fast, so I had to back down a bit, so I pretty much called it a safe jump and hopefully it would have gotten me into the top 12, so I am happy with that.”

As for the final, Stuart said if she can focus on her last two steps as she approaches the board, she will be okay. “Once I come aggressive and get on the board, it should be a good competition,” she predicted.

Stuart has a season’s best of 6.67m (21-103/4) and her national record stands at 6.83m (22-5).

The top qualifier was England’s Shara Proctor with a season’s best of 6.89m (22-7 1/4).

She noted that the hospitality here as been so good, especially the food they eat, so she can’t help but turn in a good performance in the final today at 7:55pm (Australian time).

Stuart will be the second of 12 competitors on the runway at the Carrara Stadium.

After failing to get out of the qualifying round at both the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016 and the IAAF World Championships in London, England, last year, Stuart is hoping to add to the last international medal she won when she picked up the silver at the Pan American Games in 2015 in Toronto, Canada.

GOLD Coast, Australia — Team manager Ralph McKinney said everything is looking good for the athletic team.

“Hopefully we can break through the medal ceiling with the two high jumpers.

That can get the ball rolling,” said McKinney before Jamal Wilson clinched the first medal in the men’s high jump final. “In the Bahamas, we quantify performances by medals, not just by advancing to the semi-finals, which a lot of people have done with the exception of one person.

“We want more than that.

We want to be in the final so that we can actually go out there and try and win something.”

McKinney said all of the athletes are upbeat in the Games Village where they have the males located on one floor in their dormitories, while the females are on another floor. He said while the boxing, triathlon and swimming teams have already left, the athletic team is in the village with the cycling, table tennis and wrestling teams.

“Everything is going good. We are preparing the athletes who haven’t competed yet for their events over the last few days of the meet.”

Included in the list are the women’s 4 x 100 and men’s 4 x 400 metre teams.

Unfortunately for the women, Tynia Gaither did not make the trip here as she is nursing an injury.

“She had a recurring injury prior to the start of the games, so she is in the US undergoing therapy so that she will be ready to compete later this summer, hopefully at the Central American and Caribbean Games,” McKinney said.

“But we will make do with what we have.

“The way the roster is set up, anyone on the team can be a part of the relay team. So we can use any of the other females to make up the relay team.

The list includes Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Anthonique Strachan, V’Alonee Robinson, Tamara Myers, Katrina Seymour and Bianca Stuart.”

At the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Bahamas failed to get on the podium in the women’s 4 x 100m. The team of Seymour, Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson, Cache Armbrister and Nivea Smith ran 44.25 for sixth place. Jamaica won the gold, Nigeria got the silver and the bronze went to England.

As for the men’s 4 x 400m relay team, McKinney said

SEE PAGE 13

PAGE 12, Thursday, April 12, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

BAHAMAS LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION EASTER JUNIOR NATIONAL CLASSIC

Anthony Burrows Jr wins triple-crown THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s Easter Junior National Classic was a blazing success. Congratulations to the winners, runners-up and a special thank you to all those players who participated. Special recognition is extended to Anthony Burrows Jr, who was our triple-crown winner for the tournament.

And to the tournament director Wes Rolle, Steve Taylor (who assisted with 8s and 10s), family members, friends and tennis enthusiasts who came out to support their favourite players, we say “a hearty thank you.”

The winners and runners-up: Girls’ 18s Winner: Sydney Clarke 6-2 6-0 Girls’ 18s Runner-up: Elana Mackey Boys’ 18s Winner: Donte Armbrister 6-0, 6-0 Boys’ 18s Runner-up: Calum Moodie Girls’ 16s Winner: Elana Mackey 6-0, 6-0 Girls’ 16s Runner-up: Genesis Missick Boys’ 16s Winner: Anthony Burrows Jr. 6-0, 6-3 Boys’ 16s Runner-up: Om Dhadwal Girls’ 14s Winner: Kaylee Kanuka 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 Girls’ 14s Runner-up: Kinza Johnson Boys’ 14s Winner: Anthony Burrows Jr. 6-3, 6-3 Boys’ 14s Runner-up: Michael Major Jr. Girls’ 12s Winner: Sierra Rodgers 6-1, 6-1 Girls’ 12s Runner-up: Jalisa Clarke Boys’ 12s Winner: Michael Major Jr. 6-0, 6-1 Boys’ 12s Runner-up: Jackson Mactaggart Girls’ 10s Winner: BreAnn Ferguson Girls’ 10s Runner-up: Rachel Thompson Boys’ 10s Winner: Miguel Smith Boys’ 10s Runner: Patrick Mactaggart Girls’ 8s Winner: Marlee Martin Girls’ 8s Runner-up: Victoria Sandi Boys’ 8s Winner: Patrick Mactaggart Boys’ 8s Runner-up: Julius-Aquil Williams Boys’ 14s Doubles Winners: Anthony Burrows Jr. & Dentry Mortimer Jr. Boys’ 14s Doubles Runners-up: Michael Major Jr. & Clint Newry Girls’ 14s Doubles Winners: Kaylee Kanuka & Kinza Johnson Girls’ 14s Doubles Runners-up: Sierra Rodgers & Genesis Missick

ANTHONY Burrows Jr

MIGUEL SMITH, right, and Patrick Mactaggart.

DONTE ARMBRISTER, left, and Calum Moodie, right.

GIRLS 14s Doubles winners and runner ups.

RACHEL Thompson

PATRICK Mactaggart

KINZA Johnson BREANN Ferguson

KAYLEE Kanuka JULIUSAQUIL Williams

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, April 12, 2018, PAGE 13

Collie lands in triple jump final

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net GOLD Coast, Australia — Although he came here with a new jumping pattern, Latario Collie said he was still confident that he could make the final of the men’s triple jump at the XXI Commonwealth Games.

In the qualifying round yesterday at the Carrara Stadium, Collie’s best performance came in the third and final round when he soared 15.98 metres or 52-feet, 5 1/4-inches to finish seventh in Group B, but 11th overall to make the top 12 for the final on Saturday at 3:15pm (Australian time) on the final day of the athletic competition.

“It was different. This is my first time jumping off my left leg in my first outdoor meet for the year. I was just trying to get my timing back,” Collie said.

“I’m just trying to get used to competing again.”

The 24-year-old Collie, who is competing in his first Commonwealth Games, opened with a 15.83m (51-11 1/4) leap on his first attempt. He followed with 15.54m

(51-0) on his second and landed his best mark on the third.

Arpinder Singh of India had the best qualifying mark of 16.39m (53-9 1/4) to lead Group B for second overall behind Yordanya Duranona Garcia of Dominica with 16.75m (54-11 1/2).

“I tried to play it safe. There was a head wind, so I had to fix my approach while I was running,” he said. “I got a safe on in and then I came back on the second jump.

I felt it was going to be a big one, but I buckled on my step phase so I managed to get it in. I just had to put in a good one on my final attempt to get into the final.”

Now that he’s into the final, Collie said if he can perfect his timing, he should have no problems. He’s glad that his long-time coach Peter Pratt is on the sidelines guiding him along.

FROM PAGE 11

LATARIO Collie of the Bahamas competes in the men’s triple jump qualifying at Carrara Stadium during the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, Thursday, April 12, 2018.

(AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) “I feel at home,” he insisted. “It’s good to have my coach here.”

Collie, a graduate of Texas A&M, is hoping to become the first jumper since national record holder Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands won a bronze medal in 2002 in New

Delhi, India. Sands had originally qualified for these games, but was not included on the list of entries submitted by the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations for ratification by the Bahamas Olympic Committee.

WRESTLER WRINKLE SUFFERS 5-0 LOSS IN COMMONWEALTH DEBUT

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net GOLD Coast, Australia — Sean Wrinkle, 21, making his debut at the XXI Commonwealth Games, suffered a 5-0 decision to Australia’s Connor Evans in the men’s freestyle 74 kilogram.

But despite having to battle the home crowd as well, Wrinkle said he was quite pleased with his performance in the match that lasted 0 minutes and 48 seconds at the Carra Sports Arena 1 yesterday.

Wrinkle was the first of two Bahamians competing in wrestling. The other is Rashji Mackey, who will be in action on Saturday during the final day of competition.

“I didn’t perform as well as I wanted to because of a little medical setback,” said Wrinkle, who was nursing an injured arm that he had wrapped up. “But it was a good match. He was a tough opponent. I’m hoping that if he wins the gold. He won in the weight class above me in the last Commonwealth Games. So he has a lot of experience.”

Wrinkle is hoping that the Bahamas Olympic Committee will give him the opportunity to compete in the University Championships and if he gets to do it, he will definitely improve on his performance here.

“This was good. It’s a great event.

I got a lot of support from the Bahamian team. It’s been enjoyable,” he summed up.

And he was even more particularly pleased to have his parents, Stephen and Gail, in the stands cheering for him.

SEAN Wrinkle is flanked by his parents Stephen and Gail Wrinkle.

“I really appreciate the effort they made to be here,” he said. “I just wished that I would have put on a better performance and won.”

Despite the loss, his father Stephen said he was proud of his son.

“We’re very proud of his performance. He came a long way. He was dominating the match until the very end,” he said. “Then an unfortunate move caused the pin. But other than that, he did extremely well. It was a very tough draw taking on the Australian in the first match. He was the world champion and Commonwealth Games champion, but he did well, he performed well.

“I think the potential for wrestling in the Bahamas is very strong.

We have another competitor on Saturday and I’m looking forward to watching him perform on Saturday. We are very happy to be here to support Sean and the rest of the

MCKINNEY: ‘EVERYTHING GOING GOOD’ FOR TEAM BAHAMAS

Bahamian team and we are looking forward to some exciting events over the next few days. We will support the team throughout the rest of the games.”

Clarence Rolle, the coach of the team, said Wrinkle certainly held his own until the very end.

“I thought the match was one that showed that the Bahamian wrestlers do have the type of intensity to compete on the world stage,” Rolle said. “I’m sure that myself and Sean are disappointed in the final outcome because we didn’t get the win, but if you watched the match, you can see that he really dominated it and had an excellent chance of getting the win.

“He didn’t get a pin and so I think we will have to go back and correct those things and you will be able to see some better results the next time he gets an opportunity to compete on the international stage.

But I was very proud of him, being his first international competition. I think he represented us very well. When we correct those minor things, we will see a lot of wins in his column.”

Wellington Miller, the immediate past president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, said when they decided to get wrestling more involved in their organisation, under Rolle as its president and one of their vice presidents, they were preparing for the opportunity to showcase the Bahamas on the international scene.

“Sean did very well. As a matter of fact, I though he won the fight,” Miller said. “He did a good job of holding the guy down, but I think he made one rookie mistake at the end and that comes with not having the international experience. But I’m very proud of him. I think if he sticks with it, he can go very far.”

Chef de mission Roy Colebrook said it’s just amazing to see the progress that has been made in wrestling.

“Sean Wrinkle dictated the whole match, but as he matures in it, I’m sure we are looking at a future world champion,” Colebrook said.

“But what this does is it speaks about the mandate of the BOC to give the small federations the opportunity go on stage and show just watch Bahamians are made of.

“Today was a testimony of what we are speaking about. We want people in our country to understand that many sports, which many sports that Bahamians are competing in, can get the opportunity at making a mark in the sporting world today.”

although Michael Mathieu ran through to the semi-final of the men’s 400m, he anticipates that he will be well rested to join team-mates Ramon Miller, Stephen Newbold, Alonzo Russell, Ojay Ferguson and Teray Smith. Ferguson replaced Steven Gardiner, who was originally named to the team, but opted not to travel here to compete.

Over the weekend, Gardiner ran 19.75 seconds to erase Mathieu’s previous 200m national record.

Gardiner is now the holder of both the men’s 200 and 400m records.

At the last Commonwealth Games, the men’s team of Latoy Williams, Mathieu, Russell, Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown and Andretti Bain ran 3:00.51 for the silver behind England. Trinidad & Tobago got the bronze.

McKinney said the athletes were in practice with coaches Rupert Gardiner and Frank ‘Pancho’ Rahming at the time of the interview.

The last Bahamian who will compete in an individual event is Latario Minns in the men’s triple jump. His qualifying round will take place at the Carrara Stadium on Thursday at 10:30am where he will be sixth of ten jumpers in Group B. The top 12 competitors out of the two groups of 10 each will advance to the final that will be held on Saturday during the final day of competition at 3:15pm.

“He had two track meets this year and when I looked at his videos, I saw some things that I was able to work out to get him ready in time to compete,” Pratt said. “By tomorrow (today), there’s a possibility that he could be in the top three or the top four. He should definitely get into the final.”

As for the rest of the tam, Pratt said that he felt that across the board, the athletes competing here could and should have been better prepared psychologically to compete.

“Management needed some more time so that we could have sorted out some things so that we can get better maximisation of the athletes,” Pratt said.

Jamal Wilson clinches silver in the high jump FROM PAGE 11 first place, a position he took at 2.27m (7-5 1/4).

Starc knocked the bar down on his first attempt at 2.30m (7-6 1/2). But at 2.32m (7-7 1/4), Starc moved into the lead with his lifetime best on his first attempt.

After knocking the bar down twice at 2.32m (7-7 1/4), Wilson passed on his third attempt and went for the gold at 2.34m (7-8). He missed and with no chance of clinching the gold, settled for the silver as he did a backward flip to acknowledge the crowd. Feeding off the home crowd, Starc then attempted to clear 2.34m (7-8) as well, but failed as he clinched the gold.

“It started off a little sloppy. I was getting most of my jumps off on the first attempt, but my rhythm was a little bit off on the run.

I’m kind of grateful that I could have held it over the top and cleared the heights anyway. But I’m so happy I got the 2.30 on the first attempt, which secured me for the silver medal.

“I can’t be mad at this one. Silver medal is good.”

On his fanciness on the bed, Wilson said he was just doing what he likes to do.

“I’m an entertainer.

People like my hair, they like the way I do me. This is me. I can’t be anybody else except myself. I will continue doing what I do.

This is what got me here in the first place. This is what I do.”

Wilson said the whole environment here in the Gold Coast was indicative of his performance.

“It was good (competition). Consistently across the board, this could probably be one of the best Commonwealth Games in along time,” Wilson pointed out. “It was good.

I have no complaints. The atmosphere was great, the weather is nice, the people are nice. Yeah, I have no complaints.”

On the showdown that he encountered with Starc, Wilson said he had the Canadian’s number until the end when it counts the most. “Good for him. He did a marvelous job. He secured a personal best.

And this is in his home country. As you could see, I didn’t even ask for claps anymore because no one was clapping for me. I just tried to do it on my adrenaline. Whatever wings God gave me at the time to get it, I used those wings and I flew over whatever height I could fly over.”

As for Thomas’ fourth place finish, Wilson said he sympathised with him.

“He’s an experienced guy. I have no doubt in my mind that he will come back stronger next time.”

Now that he got to accomplish his goal of getting on the podium, even thought he wanted the gold medal, Wilson said he will take a break to recondition himself before he starts training again with

GOLD medallist Australia’s Brandon Starc hugs silver medallist Jamal Wilson of the Bahamas at the end of the men’s high jump final at Carrara Stadium during the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

veteran coach Ronald Cartwright, who didn’t make the trip here for his major breakthrough.

“This is a kind of long indoor season for me really,” Wilson stated. “But I’m gonna take a break and get ready for the outdoor season. I have a few meets lined up already. I can’t say what yet because the schedule might change. Yeah, just getting ready for the outdoor season.”

When asked how he’s going to celebrate, Wilson said: “I don’t know yet.

Whatever comes to mind first, I might go with that.

No, they say take the second option because the first one is never good. So the second option is what I may go with.”

Pressed as to what those options are, Wilson said “I can’t tell you that right now because I don’t even know.

I’m going to walk out this building just happy and whatever happens next, I’m going to take it like that.”

He will get his medal during the beginning of Thursday’s evening session that will see Jeffery Gibson go after his second consecutive Games’ medal in the men’s 400m hurdles and both Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Bianca ‘BB’ Stuart contend for their first Games’ medal in the women’s 400m and long jump final respectively.

Hopefully, the celebrations will continue for Team Bahamas at the Carrara Stadium in the Gold Coast.

PAGE 14, Thursday, April 12, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

In duel of Olympic champions, Miller-Uibo edges Thompson

By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — Shaunae Miller-Uibo got the better of a side-by-side duel with Elaine Thompson in a rehearsal for the 200-metre final at the Commonwealth Games.

There was no gold medal on the line yesterday when Olympic 100- and 200metre champion Thompson and the 400-metre gold medallist met in the semifinals, so Miller-Uibo didn’t require the dive across the finish line that made her one of the photographic highlights of the last Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The Bahamas sprinter won their semi-final race in 22.48 seconds and Thompson, who didn’t run the 100, eased off to finish in 22.95.

The Jamaican got away quickly and caught Miller-Uibo in her immediate outside lane as they rounded into the straightaway. But when Miller-Uibo pushed back, Thompson appeared to let her go.

With the final 24 hours away, neither offered comment as they left the track.

Shericka Jackson qualified fastest in a career-best 22.20, followed by Dina Asher-Smith of England in 22.44 and Miller-Uibo.

Without Thompson racing the 100, Jamaica had to settle for silver and bronze on the Gold Coast.

Yohan Blake was also upset in the men’s 100 and finished with bronze, meaning Jamaica is still awaiting a sprint gold at the games.

The Jamaicans had to settle for silver and bronze again when Amantle Montsho won the 400-metre final in the last event of the night. Montsho won in 50.15, narrowly missing the games record she set in 2010, holding off Anastasia Le-Roy and Stephenie McPherson to give Botswana top spot on the podium. It was a double for her country after Isaac Makwala won men’s 400 the previous night.

One track gold the Jamaicans did get wasn’t entirely expected, when Aisha Praught won the women’s

3,000-metre steeplechase.

Kenyans swept the medals in this event at the last two Commonwealth Games and it seemed another was on the way until Praught made her move on the last water jump and pulled away to win in 9:21. Kenyan teammates Celliphine Chepteek Chespol and Purity Cherotich Kirui settled for silver and bronze.

Praught, who trains in the United States with world champion Emma Coburn, said the Jamaicans were going to come back stronger.

“If we don’t win a gold in the 100, we’ll win one in the steeplechase. We’re just switching it up,” she said.

Recently retired Usain Bolt arrived yesterday as the cheerleader-in-chief for the Jamaicans, and Praught said it would give the team a lift.

“He’s been such an amazing role model, even though we couldn’t be in further events from each other — you just learn from the greats,” she said. “I’m glad he’s here. Hopefully he can raise people’s spirits.”

• In other games news: MISSING ATHLETES Eight Cameroon athletes have left the athletes village without notifying team officials.

Team officials say the five boxers and three weightlifters left the Gold Coast village over the past three days, some before their scheduled competitions.

Games officials say the athletes haven’t broken any laws but urged them not to violate the conditions of their visas.

CALAMITOUS KIWIS New Zealand’s Silver Ferns lost for the second time in the group stage of the netball, which had been almost unthinkable before the games. England’s 54-45 upset win followed the New Zealand’s shocking loss to Malawi.

New Zealand has played in every Commonwealth Games gold-medal match — against Australia — since the sport was introduced to the program in 1998.

The news wasn’t any better at field hockey, where New Zealand’s men’s team lost to rival Australia 2-1, allowing the Australians to finish in first place in their pool.

SHAUNAE Miller-Uibo reacts after winning the 200m semi-final yesterday at Carrara Stadium.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL Australia will play Canada in men’s gold medal match in the games debut of beach volleyball.

Chris McHugh and Damien Schumann beat the England team of Chris Gregory and Jake Sheaf 21-13, 21-16 in the semi-finals.

They will play Canadian teammates Samuel Pedlow and Sam Schachter, who beat New Zealand 21-18, 21-15 in the other semi-final match.

SHOOTING STARS Shreyasi Singh of India took advantage of a late collapse by Emma Cox to win gold in the women’s double trap in a shoot-off.

Cox entered the final round with a seven-point lead and needed to hit only 19 of her last 30 targets to ensure gold. But the Australian fell one short to finish level with Singh with 96 out of 120 targets, and then was the first shooter to miss.

“I just had it in me that I want to win the gold medal,” said Singh, who finished second in Glasgow in 2014.

“I don’t want to go back with another silver.”

FIELD RECORDS — At the athletics stadium, Luvo Manyonga of South Africa set a gamesrecord of 8.41 metres to win the long jump.

— Kathryn Mitchell threw a games-record 68.92 metres with her first attempt in the javelin and nobody else got close, giving Australia the first gold medal of the night on the track.

— Brandon Starc, the younger brother of Australian international cricketer Mitchell Starc, won the high jump after clearing 2.32 metres.

JAMAICA’s Elaine Thompson looks at the scoreboard following her 2nd place finish.

(AP Photos/Mark Schiefelbein)

TIMBERWOLVES BEAT NUGGETS IN OVERTIME TO REACH NBA PLAYOFFS MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 31 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 14 rebounds and the Minnesota Timberwolves ended the NBA’s longest-running playoff drought, beating the Denver Nuggets 112-106 in overtime on Wednesday night in the first final-day play-in game in the league in 21 years.

When the final horn blew, the capacity and whitetowel-waving crowd at Target Center stood to soak in Minnesota’s first postseason appearance since 2004.

Butler flashed a smile of relief as he hugged his teammates and confetti fluttered above the floor. The fans chanted “MVP! “MVP!” as Butler conducted a postgame interview.

Jokic locked in a classic big man battled with Towns, finishing with 35 points and 10 rebounds, but he missed six of his last eight shots after the third quarter as Denver’s late push fell a few points short.

The Timberwolves are moving on to play, gulp, the NBA-best Houston Rockets in the first round.

Will Barton, who had 24 points, made a 3-pointer to beat the shot clock for Denver’s first lead, 104103, since midway through the first quarter. After Taj Gibson hounded Jokic to force an air-balled 3-point try, Jeff Teague swished a floater with 1:19 left in overtime to put the Wolves back in front for good.

Andrew Wiggins sank two foul shots with 15 seconds remaining to finish with 18 points, and the Wolves were finally on their way to a celebration

more than a decade in the making.

a record every night by adding another accomplishment to his long list of achievements. Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said he tried to talk James out of playing, but he gave in and allowed the 33-year-old to extend his record of scoring in double digits to 873 consecutive games before taking him out. James finished with 10 points and five rebounds in 10:33.

Knicks rookie Luke Kornet scored a seasonhigh 23 points.

THUNDER 137, GRIZZLIES 123 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook clinched a triple-double average for the second straight season, Paul George scored 40 points and Oklahoma beat Memphis.

Westbrook entered the night needing 16 rebounds to clinch the triple-double average. He pulled down his 16th rebound with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter and received a standing ovation. He finished with just six points, but had a career-high 20 rebounds and 19 assists.

Steven Adams scored 24 points. and Corey Brewer added 17 for the Thunder, who matched a franchise record with 20 made 3-pointers. Dillon Brooks scored a career-high 36 points for Memphis.

76ERS 130, BUCKS 95 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid and JJ Redick watched from the bench, Ben Simmons had a scoreless first half and Philadelphia still won its 16th consecutive game to take the No. 3 Eastern Conference seed.

Fultz had his first career triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds.

Justin Anderson led the Sixers with 25 points, and Dario Saric had 24.

Embiid wore a black mask during warmups to protect his broken bone around his left eye, then changed into gold sneakers and a peach-colored jacket

MINNESOTA Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, left, and Jeff Teague celebrate the team’s 112-106 win in overtime last night against the Denver Nuggets.

(AP Photo/Jim Mone) to watch the Sixers romp to a stunning 80-44 lead at the break. Embiid said he will likely miss at least Game 1 of the playoffs this weekend because of the injury.

KNICKS 110, CAVALIERS 98 CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James played in his

82nd game, scored 10 points and then got some rest for the playoffs in Cleveland’s loss to New York in coach Jeff Hornacek’s likely last game with the Knicks.

James had never played every game in his 15-year NBA career. But he capped a remarkable season in which he seemed to break

HEAT 116, RAPTORS 109, OT MIAMI (AP) — Wayne Ellington scored a careerhigh 32 points and set Miami’s single-season record for 3-pointers, helping the Heat wrap up the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Ellington finished with eight 3-pointers, giving him 227 for the season.

He topped the mark set

by Damon Jones, who made 225 in 2004-05. Kelly Olynyk, Dwyane Wade, Justise Winslow, James Johnson and Tyler Johnson each scored 11 points for the Heat.

Kyle Lowry scored 28 points for Toronto, which already had the top seed in the East wrapped up.

PELICANS 122, SPURS 98 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Anthony Davis had 22 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks and three steals, and New Orleans assured itself no worse than the sixth seed in the Western Conference.

Rajon Rondo had 19 points and 14 assists, Nikola Mirotic had 21 points and

15 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday added 19 points for the Pelicans LaMarcus Aldridge, Tony Parker and Dejounte Murray each scored 11 points for San Antonio.

MAGIC 101, WIZARDS 92 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Rodney Purvis scored 16 points for Orlando and Mario Hezonja finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Jodie Meeks came off the bench to score 18 points for Washington. They lost five of their last six games to take the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

CELTICS 110, NETS 97 BOSTON (AP) — Aron Baynes led a short-handed Boston lineup with a career-best 26 points and 14 rebounds, carrying the Celtics past Brooklyn.

Jonathan Gibson scored 18 points, Guerschon Yabusele had 16 and Shane Larkin added 12 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for the Celtics. Nik Stauskas scored 18 points for the Nets.

PISTONS 119, BULLS 87 CHICAGO (AP) — Rookie Luke Kennard scored a career-high 23 points and Eric Moreland set career bests with 16 points and 17 rebounds for Detroit.

Anthony Tolliver had 18 points and Henry Ellenson added 14 points and 10 rebounds. Rookie Lauri Markkanen had 20 points for Chicago.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, April 12, 2018, PAGE 15

LATE RONALDO PENALTY KEEPS MADRID ALIVE IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Just when it looked like Juventus would pull off another stunning Champions League comeback, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up once again.

Ronaldo converted a penalty kick deep into injury time to send Real Madrid through to the semifinals for the eighth straight season despite a 3-1 home loss to Juventus on Wednesday. The goal was enough to give the two-time defending champion a 4-3 aggregate win and avoid nerve-racking extra time after the Italian side had erased a seemingly insurmountable deficit from the first leg.

“It was a match in which we suffered,” Ronaldo said.

“It shows that nothing is a given in football, you have to fight until the end. We didn’t play well, we have to admit. But in the end we deserved to advance.”

A day after seeing Spanish rival Barcelona blow a three-goal advantage against Roma in Italy, Madrid nearly did the same.

But Juventus’ heroics came up just short after substitute

REAL Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates at the end of yesterday’s game. (AP) Lucas Vazquez appeared to be pushed from behind inside the area in the third and final minute of stoppage time.

Veteran Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, in what was likely his last Champions League game, was then sent off for furiously complaining after the penalty decision. The Madrid crowd at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium gave Buffon a standing ovation as he left the field.

“Life goes on,” Buffon said. “I’m happy and proud of how we played, we made the impossible possible. It’s a shame it ends like this.”

In the night’s other quarterfinal, Bayern Munich advanced with a 0-0 home draw against Sevilla as the newly crowned Bundesliga champions defended a 2-1 advantage from the first leg.

Madrid won the first leg 3-0 in Turin last week, when Ronaldo scored with a spectacular bicycle kick for his second goal of the match.

That deficit made Wednesday’s return leg seem like an impossible task for Juventus but it got off to the perfect start when Mario Mandzukic opened the scoring with a header two minutes into the match.

He added to the lead with another header before halftime, and Blaise Matuidi scored the third early in the second half after a blunder by Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

But Ronaldo, in his 150th Champions League appearance, then netted his 120th goal in the competition by converting the penalty with a firm shot into the top corner. He celebrated by taking off his shirt and running toward the euphoric Madrid crowd.

Ronaldo has scored 21 goals in his last 11 matches in all competitions, and has

netted in 11 straight Champions League matches.

The penalty came as Vazquez was in position to score in front of the goal after Ronaldo headed down a cross into the area. Juventus players stormed toward English referee Michael Oliver, who apparently had help from his behind-thegoal assistant to make the call.

The penalty was taken eight minutes into stoppage

time as it took a while for Oliver to clear the Juventus players who were protesting against the decision.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said he had a brief encounter in the tunnel with Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, who didn’t play because of a suspension. “I just told him that it wasn’t a clear penalty,” Allegri said.

Madrid had conceded three goals at home only

two other times this season, in a 3-0 loss to Barcelona and a 6-3 win over Girona.

It was the first time Madrid was down 3-0 in the Champions League since losing 4-0 at Liverpool in the round of 16 in 2008-09.

“We didn’t expect to concede an early goal like that,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. “That allowed their team to grow and it made things difficult for us.”

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