However, one of Scotland's silver medals and one bronze were from para-athletes, including Samantha Kinghorn's bronze in a thrilling 1500-metre wheelchair, reported on in a previous column. However, not all para events were included in Birmingham with the hosts deciding which para events were on the programme.
The choice of events for Birmingham did not include events where New Zealand won medals at the Olympics last year which meant that it was not an even playing field. Scotland also gained a fortunate bronze medal in the women's 4 x 400 after England which had crossed the line first were disqualified. With the para events out of this equation, both countries would have won six medals.
I am disappointed on returning to New Zealand that the media focus has been on who was not selected for track and field rather than the successes of New Zealand athletes. Many of the comments have ignored the fact it was NZOC philosophy, not Athletic New Zealand's, that athletes selected in individual events had to be shown to be capable of finishing in the top six and teams of finishing with a medal, with the quota of athletes set at 18.
The early final qualifying time set by NZOC further complicated things. Hopefully, there will be a continued dialogue between NZOC and national sports bodies, and clearer messaging. Certainly, the increase of team sports at the Commonwealth Games has added problems in terms of quotas set to fit in with venue logistics and the large team groups.
The New Zealand track and field team of 17 athletes produced six medals and a further six finished in the top six. Three more reached the final with Portia Bing finishing seventh in the 400-metre hurdles, Connor Bell eighth in the discus and Nicole Bradley ninth in the hammer and thus just missing three additional throws in that final and the opportunity to improve her placing.
Only two of the team did not manage a place in a final and one of them, Lauren Bruce, who holds the Cooks Gardens hammer stadium record, had one of those days recording three no throws and failed to qualify for the final. Bruce, who had an outstanding domestic season, was expected to win a medal.
Many personal bests are set in competition under ideal conditions and in distance events, often with a pacemaker. It was pleasing that the team of 2022 produced many when it mattered and performed up to and above expectations.
We have been fortunate to see almost all the New Zealand athletes at Cooks Gardens in recent years. Julia Ratcliffe, second in the hammer in Birmingham, and the two pole vaulters, Imogen Ayris and Olivia McTaggart, being exceptions. Ratcliffe, however, did set a New Zealand Schools record at Cooks Gardens back in 2014.
New Zealand medal winners Hamish Kerr and Jacko Gill hold recent stadium records and fifth-placed Tori Peeters set the stadium record in javelin in January. We hope that most of our successful Birmingham athletes will be at Cooks Gardens in January for the next edition of the Pak'nSave Cooks Classic.
