TWO athletes were flying the flag for Frome at this month’s Commonwealth Games in Australia. Hurdler Eilidh Doyle, who took home a silver medal, and Emily Diamond, who competed in the 400m and 4x400m relay, both live in the town.
Eilidh Doyle, who represented Scotland as their flag-bearer and currently lives in Frome, picked up her 15th major championship medal in the 400m hurdles with a silver for the third successive Commonwealth Games.
The Scot was third coming off the final bend and then maintained her composure to stride past South Africa’s Wenda Nel and take second spot behind Jamaica’s Janieve Russell, in 54.80 seconds.
“I have a really good team around me,” said Eilidh, “My whole support team has been fantastic, they are the ones who get me here in the best shape possible and give me the confidence to know I get out there and perform. I knew this was going to be the hardest Commonwealth Games to come and win a medal at.
“You never know with hurdling, you’ve just got to get it right on the night, so it is great to come away with a silver.”
Emily Diamond, who competed in the 400m and narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the 4x400m relay, lives in Frome and was chosen to switch on the town’s Christmas lights in 2016 after her Olympic bronze medal success in Rio.
A determined last leg from University of Bath-based Emily, was not quite enough to secure a bronze medal for Team England in the women’s 4x400m relay.
Emily received the baton in third place and ran brilliantly to hold on to that position until the closing 50m when she was finally overtaken by Commonwealth 400m champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana.
“There were some incredibly strong athletes on that fourth leg and I knew everyone would be chasing me quickly, wherever I was placed, so I tried to give myself the best possible chance.
“I did my best to get out hard and make them work hard if they were going to go past me. I really tried, I didn’t feel Montsho until the last few metres. She’s a Commonwealth champion and it’s a tough ask to go with her.”
