Commonwealth Games 2022 LIVE: Laura Muir storms to 1500m gold after England win women’s hockey title

Following Hughes on track is the English sprinter’s ghost of Commonwealth past, with Jereem Richards comfortable enough and winning in 20.68 seconds. The Trinidadian sprinter could afford a look over at Sibusiso Matsenjwa, just accelerating to ensure that the man from Swaziland did not pip him to heat victory.

Richards might not quite be in his top sprinting form, but he took an excellent gold at the World Indoors in Belgrade earlier this year, beating Deon Lendore’s national record, dedicating the victory to his close friend, who passed away in a car accident in the USA in January.

“I’m enjoying myself,” Hughes tells the BBC of a statement showing in the heats. “This crowd is amazing, absolutely blew my mind when they announced my name. It gave me the energy I needed. I’m just having fun out here executing.

“What happened in Oregon [a semi-final exit in the 100 metres] is behind me now. This is my main focus. There’s a lot more there. Felt pretty good, try to stay relaxed as much as possible, trust my speed and endurance and do what I have to do.”

A very smooth run from England’s Zharnel Hughes, visibly buoyed by a roar from the crowd on the blocks, and running a very nippy 20.30, just 0.01 off his season best.

You may remember that Hughes thought he had won gold in this event four years ago on the Gold Coast, but was later disqualified for impeding Jereem Richards. He looks to be in good form and may just have a chance to put that right.

Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon won the first heat, but the more eye-catching result, perhaps, comes in Heat Two. Uber-talented Nigerian Udodi Onwuzurike was expected to win the second: the 19-year-old was World U20 champion over the distance last year, ahead of Letsile Tebogo, the Botswana sprinter who has just smashed the junior 100m record at this year’s U20 event despite celebrating some distance from home.

But Onwuzurike is beaten! Shajar Abbas of Pakistan takes it in 21.12 ahead of the Nigerian, who appeared to perhaps be labouring a little as he tried to settle into his stride. Hmm. Onwuzurike does progress as the second automatic qualifier, but on that form he might not be the contender for a medal that most hoped he might be.

A busy morning on the Alexander Stadium track continues with the men’s 200 metres, with eight heats. England’s Adam Gemili, who split with controversial coach Rana Reider ahead of the Commonwealth Games, took silver in Glasgow eight years ago and goes in the sixth heat.

It looks an open field.

“It was tough to decide what I was going to do here, because originally I was thinking ‘I can’t do another 1500 after the worlds, I might try and do the 800’ [metres]. But the more I got into my training I thought it would be nice to add a Commonwealth title [to my World Championships 1500m gold]. Anything from this point in my season on is just a bonus to what I have already done. I don’t feel the pressure, but there is definitely a bit more hype behind it.

On being announced as world champion: “That was the bit I was most looking forward to! It’s the first realisation that it has happened was being announced as it. A nice moment, that. Even though we are wearing a Scotland vest I feel like the crowd got behind us a bit which was nice.”

Everyone is a little nervy in Heat Two, which starts slowly but has a frenetic energy throughout. Abel Kipsang gets himself out of danger by moving to the front as they take the bell, allowing him to pace his final lap, while Jake Wightman soon follows the Kenyan and eventually takes victory ahead of England’s Matthew Stonier.

Another Brit, Neil Gourley of Scotland, is fourth behind Kipsang, while Australia’s Samuel Tanner gets the better of New Zealand’s Matthew Ramsden to take the fifth and final automatic spot. The speed of the first heat means that the fastest losers will come from there.

All eyes on Jake Wightman in Heat Two, with Britain’s newly-crowned 1500m world champion looking proud in his Scottish jersey. Kenya’s Abel Kipsang has had a good year and should challenge him in this heat, but dangerous Aussie Stewart McSweyn was forced to withdraw yesterday.

The first five go through to the final, and there are no real dramas for any of the leading names despite a strong heat, Kenya’s Olympic silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot making sure he kicks early from slightly further back to finish safely in the lead pack.

In order, through go Oliver Hoare (Australia), Cheruiyot (Kenya), Jake Heyward (Wales), Josh Kerr (Scotland) and Elliot Giles (England), who surged free en masse from Canada’s Will Paulson.

Wightman goes in the second of two heats in a few minutes, but for now it is Wales’ Jake Heyward making the running around the bend of the third lap of the track in the first heat.

Heyward looks strong, as does Oliver Hoare, the powerful Australian on his shoulder.