Inez Miller (WA) has continued her golden run at the Trinbago 2023 pool claiming gold in the women’s 400m freestyle, as track cycling got underway with an Australian double by Lauren Bates (ACT) and Keira Will (NSW) in the women’s points race. 

Miller has also won gold in the 200m freestyle and mixed 4x200m relay, silver in the 100m freestyle and bronze in the mixed 4x100m relay to boast a five-medal haul with one day of swimming remaining. 

“I’m pumped, it was a solid swim. It was my first time under 4:16 for the first time in two years so that’s really, really good,” Miller, who clocked 4:14.97, said. 

Mikayla Bird (Qld) joined Miller on the gold medal winners’ list when she stopped the clock at 1:00.15 in the women’s 100m butterfly. Her trophy cabinet also includes victory in the mixed 4x200m freestyle and three bronze medals. 

Elsewhere, Hannah Allen (Qld, 4:18.72) and Lillie McPherson (NSW, 1:00.80) won their maiden Trinbago 2023 medals by touching the wall for silver in the women’s 400m freestyle and women’s 100m butterfly respectively. 

“Inez same so well for her gold medal and I’m so excited with what’s to come for me. I can’t wait to swim my 800m tomorrow,” Allen said. 

“That was the swim I planned. I went out relatively cruisey, but came back and finished strong so was happy,” McPherson added. 

“It’s been so great to experience everything over here, seeing the culture has been so much fun.” 

Australia’s medal tally on the penultimate day at the pool was rounded out by bronze in the mixed 4x100m relay in a time of 3:36.03, as England (3:33.44) and Scotland (3:35.60) won gold and silver respectively. 

For Bates and Will, it was a case of déjà vu as they traded the asphalt of the road for the wooden velodrome floor. 

Competing in the points race, the duo fought it out across 60-laps with points awarded ever ten laps to the rider first past the post. 

The current Oceania champion, it was Bates who took the win with 27 points, edging out the Australian champion Will who finished on 19 points. 

Will confirmed post-race that the duo had another gold-silver result in their sights.  

“It was a smaller field that I’m used to, making the race quite different. There was some strong competition, though, and we definitely had to make sure we were paying attention because there were a couple of strong moves that we almost missed,” Will said. 

In the men’s sprint qualifying round, Tayte Ryan (SA) clocked the fastest time of the day at 10.670, earning himself automatic qualification to the semi-finals. Liliya Tatarinoff (NSW) also earned herself a spot in the semi-finals of the women’s event. 

Noah Blannin (QLD) and Sam McKee (TAS) were also in action, competing in the qualifying round of the men’s individual pursuit. Both will progress to the bronze medal race. 

At the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Chelsy Wayne (NSW) added silver to an already eight-strong athletics medal haul in the women’s discus throw. 

Wayne shared the lead across the six-throw competition, improving on a 48.79m best effort in the last round to sit in the gold medal position. 

Her new mark of 49.39m was then bettered on the very last throw, as Alicia Khunou (49.59m) of South Africa became Commonwealth Youth Games champion. 

“It was intense out there, so close. I just wanted to throw more and more, but it’s the best that I could do,” Wayne said. 

“I’m so happy and excited, I can’t wait to share the news with my friend. It’s a wild experience and I’m loving meeting new people. 

“This is all about experience. I need to now focus on pulling out bigger throws in my earlier attempts, it’s something that I know I need to do.” 

Narrowly missing a medal was Daniel Williams (NSW), with the 17-year-old stopping the clock at 3:45.91 to place fourth in the men’s 1500m final. 

A challenger throughout before the pace quickened in the closing lap, Williams was edged out for a spot on the podium by Kenyans Jospat Kipkirui (gold, 3:37.66) and Andrew Amalisi (silver, 3:38.12) and Ugandan Jacob Sande (bronze, 3:39.69) 

In the men’s 400m hurdles, Matthew Hunt (NSW, 53.83) automatically progressed to the final after placing among the top-three in his semi-final. Jack Love (Qld) did not advance. 

The swimming action will conclude tomorrow, with two further days of activity at the velodrome and athletics stadium to round out competition in Port of Spain. 

Among the highlights on day five will be Delta Amidzovski (NSW) in the women’s 100m hurdles, after she broke the long-standing under 18 record of two-time Commonwealth Games champion Sally Pearson earlier this year.