GLASGOW, Scotland – Demario Prince and Romaine Beckford captured Jamaica’s first two gold medals on the track when they won the men’s 110-metre hurdles and long jump events, respectively at the Commonwealth Games here on Monday.
Demario Prince captured gold in the men’s 110-metre hurdles at the Commonwealth Games. (Photo courtesy AFP)The 24-year-old Beckford claimed the first track and field medal by soaring to victory in the men’s long jump with a leap of 2.25m, becoming the first Jamaican man to win the event since 1958 when Ernle Haisley set a then Commonwealth Games record 2.06m to capture gold.
He edged India’s Sarvesh Anil Kushare, who also cleared 2.25m into second place, while England’s NCAA champion Kimani Jack was third with 2.20m.
Two-time World Indoor bronze medallist Raymond Richards just missed out on a medal, placing fourth also with 2.20m.
Meanwhile, Prince, the fourth-straight Jamaican and fifth in the last six editions to win the 110m gold medal, ran 13.17 seconds (0.4m/s) to claim his first major global medal.
England’s Samuel Bennett ran a personal best 13.30 for the silver medal and Milan Trajkvoc clocked a season’s best 13.32 to deliver Cyprus’ first medal in the event.
Jamaica’s Jerome Campbell was sixth in 13.86.
Prince, who was fourth in the 60m hurdles at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in March, was delighted with his performance.
“This means a lot. You know that was the aim coming into the Commonwealth Games. You know, just to get the gold medal, do it for myself, my family, and the fans. So yeah, I’m very, very pleased, very happy with the win,” Prince told the Jamaica Observer.
“I feel like I can still give more and still wrap up more gold medals. I was more confident going into the final, I just had to go back in the mindset to know that I can go out there and execute as I was not pleased with the prelims.
“I spoke to coach Ben (Dalton) and he told me not to worry about anything, he told me that I can do this. It is a regular thing for me to go out and execute and go get the medal for Jamaica,” he added.
