The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AGELESS wonder Carl “Flashy King” Hield turned in another credible performance, winning his opening boxing match yesterday at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Boxing at SEC Hall 5

At the SEC Hall 5, the 39-year-old professional boxer pulled off a thrilling 3-1 victory in the round of 16 in the men's 60 kilogram class over Oswald Talaka from Solomon Islands. 

"It was an amazing fight coming from the professional ranks to the amateurs, fighting three three-minute rounds," Hield said. "It was a good experience, just getting the first out of the bag.

"I just want to prove people wrong - age ain’t nothing but a number - and grab myself another medal on Wednesday and then go for the gold."

Hield thanked God for giving him the ability to fight at both levels and he again dedicated his performance to his deceased mother, but he admitted he's not finished with his destiny in Glasgow.

His next match will be against Jon McConnell from Northern Ireland on Wednesday. 

Hield's travelling buddy Rashield “Raw” Williams got eliminated on Friday in the round of 32 in the men's 65 kg class when he suffered a 3-2 decision to James Pul of Papua New Guinea.

Track and Field at the Scotstoun Stadium

Another ageless wonder, 42-year-old national champion Donald Thomas, had to settle for sixth place in the final of the men's high jump with a sub par clearance of 6-feet, 10 3/4-inches or 2.10 metres. 

Jamaica's Romaine Beckford and India's Sarvesh Kushare took the gold and silver with 7-4 1/2 (2.25m) and Britain's Kimani Jack got the bronze with 7-2 1/2 (2.20m).

Also yesterday, Oscar Smith - the first to compete in athletics - clipped the final hurdle, fell and was unable to finish the last of two heats of the preliminaries of the men's 110m hurdles.

Swimming at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre

Multiple national record holder Lamar Taylor produced a sixth-place finish in the semifinals of the men's 100m freestyle, but it wasn't enough to get him into his first final of the games.

Taylor, the veteran member of Team Bahamas in the swimming competition, came through in 49.04 seconds in the last of the two heats yesterday. Carter Swift of Australia clocked 48.77 for fifth place to clinch the eighth and final spot for the final. 

Earlier in the day, Taylor was third in the last of nine heats of the men's 100m freestyle in 49.33 to advance to the semi-finals. Grand Bahamian Marvin Johnson was tied for second in 50.54 in heat six, but he didn't advance.

Zaylie Elizabeth Thompson - one of three women on the swim team - also missed the cut in the women's 50m breaststroke after she placed sixth in the last of four heats in 33.60.

Today, Johnson will contest the preliminaries of the men's 50m butterfly in which he will swim out of lane one in the seventh of nine heats.

Two Bahamians will be entered in the preliminaries of the women's 50m freestyle with Thompson going first in lane eight in the sixth of nine heats with Elyse Wood in lane eight as well in heat eight.

Emmanuel Gadson will be in the men's 200m breaststroke, competing in lane five in the second of three hats.

Roy Colebrook is the chef de mission for Team Bahamas, assisted by D'Arcy Rahming.