Scotland's Melanie Woods won the Commonwealth Games women's 1500m T54 for the second time in under 40 hours after streaking to victory in the restaged final. England's Ellis Kottas, however, could not replicate her silver medal after the race was replayed.
Woods set a new Games record to triumph in Glasgow on Wednesday evening, but it emerged on Thursday morning that Para-athletics authorities had decided the race should be held again following appeals surrounding a first-lap crash. The Scot then kept her composure in her home city, replicated her initial success, broke the record again, and reclaimed the gold that was already hers - in mind if not around her neck.
Kottas finished fourth, having said she was
low-key traumatisedwhen the race result was overturned.
How did Woods win the replayed final?
Woods led from the start in her home city, although Noemi Alphonse of Mauritius and Australia's Eliza Ault-Connell kept her honest over the first couple of laps. The latter had fallen away by the final 200m, though, and the Scot held off the Mauritian as she was roared by down the home straight by the crowd.
Woods, who has used a wheelchair since being hit by a car while riding her bike in 2018, will also compete in the 400m later on Friday morning. The heats of that event will start a little more than 90 minutes after the replayed final.
Key Facts
- Melanie Woods won the Commonwealth Games women's 1500m T54 twice in under 40 hours.
- The race was replayed after appeals surrounding a first-lap crash.
- Woods set a new Games record on Wednesday evening and broke it again in the restaged final.
- Ellis Kottas finished fourth after the original result was overturned.
- Woods will also race in the 400m on Friday morning.
