Lyle adds Commonwealth silver to medal collection

Paralympic, world, European and now a Commonwealth medal – Maria Lyle has already completed the set when it comes to sprinting.

Add in the fact that she is still only 18 and it’s easy to see that this Scot possesses both a bright present and future in her running career.

A three-time medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Lyle added Commonwealth silver to her ever-growing collection, sprinting her way to second place on the Gold Coast in the T35 100m.

On this occasion, it was a race run under the Scotland banner as opposed to Great Britain and the teenager is already eyeing up improvements across the next four years.

“I’m really pleased to win the silver albeit a little bit disappointed with the time, but it’s my first Commonwealth Games and to experience a crowd like that was incredible,” she said, after stopping the clock in 15.14s.

“It’s a beautiful medal and it’s a really nice reward for all the hard work and sacrifices you put in to get to this point.

“It’s not often you get to stand on the podium and see the saltire flying so just to have that opportunity to race for your country and win a medal is very special.”

Lyle was joined on the podium by two Australians, with Isis Holt taking the win in 13.58s while bronze went to Holt’s compatriot Brianna Coop.

Daphne Schrager and Maria Verdeille also competed, representing England, finishing fifth and sixth respectively with Verdeille recording a personal best 19.38s.

Day seven Down Under also featured action on the field with Joshua Bain competing in the F38 shotput final.

A best throw of 12.31m saw him sit in fifth with Australia once again flying high, Cameron Crombie victorious ahead of Marty Jackson.

Meanwhile, Joshua Stacey bounced back from his first day defeat to Kim Daybell with a convincing victory in the men’s TT6-10 table tennis singles.

The Welshman had lost 3-2 in his opener but responded in style against Canada’s Ian Kent, winning 11-8 11-6 11-7 for a straight games victory.

In the same Group 1, Englishman Daybell made it two wins from two having come from a game down to beat Mohamad Azwar Bakar from Malaysia 3-1.

There was also a second win for Ross Wilson, he too coming from 2-1 down to overhaul Theo Cogill in a decider, though it wasn’t to be for Felicity Pickard as she lost 3-0 to Australia’s Melissa Tapper.

All four will be back in action on Thursday, looking to reach the knockout stages as the group phase of the singles competition comes to an end.

Day eight will also feature action on the track once more, as Zac Shaw and James Ledger compete in the T12 100m heats as well as the final, should they make it.

There is also the small matter of the women’s T38 100m, with Paralympic champion Sophie Hahn going for gold – just as she did at the Rio 2016 Games when representing ParalympicsGB.

Olivia Breen, already a Commonwealth champion on the Gold Coast in the long jump, also competes, as does 2010 Commonwealth champion and London 2012 Paralympic bronze medallist Katrina Hart.