England left ‘incredibly disappointed’ with Commonwealth Games race to be re-run 39 hours after athlete won silver

TEAM England are “incredibly disappointed” that a wheelchair race will be rerun at the Commonwealth Games – 39 hours after the original final took place. And Ellis Kottas, who thought she had claimed a para-athletics silver on her debut appearance, was left “low-key traumatised” by the officials’ dramatic U-Turn. Ellis Kottas thought she won silver in the women’s T54 1500 metres Credit: PA The race will now have to be re-run Credit: Reuters Melanie Woods, paralysed when hit by a car while out cycling eight years ago, was the gold medallist in the women’s T54 1,500 metres on Wednesday evening at the Scotstoun Stadium. However, the event, which began at 7.15pm, was marred by a spectacular crash at the first corner where the Mauritian star Noemi Alphonse crashed into Australian Eliza Ault-Connell. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Scottish wheelchair racer Joanna Robertson then rode into Ault-Connell, the three racers all ended up on the ground of the blue Mondo track, and Kottas slowly crashed into the wall. Woods, 31, crossed the line in a Games Record time of 3:33.39, followed by Nandini Sharma in second but the Canadian was later disqualified following a protest by Team Mauritius and Team Australia. MORE FROM COMMONWEALTH GAMES Kingston Uni student Kottas, who crossed the line in 4:22.07, was then bumped up from bronze to silver – much to her great delight – and Dingley (4:42.25) was given third in revised reports. Yet the drama did not stop there and throughout the night there were protests and counter-claims. A protest and an appeal by Team Canada were both rejected and then further appeals to the Jury of Appeal were made by Australian and Mauritian chiefs asking for the race to be held again. The Jury of Appeal considered these appeals and upheld the decisions to maintain the disqualification of Sharma, 28, and decided to hold the race again. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Noemi Alphonse crashed during the first corner of the race Credit: AFP News of the replay was officially announced on Thursday morning and six of the seven athletes from the scrapped final will resume proceedings on Friday morning at 10.24am. The medal ceremony will then be held later that night at 6.48pm but, of course, Woods and Kottas could miss out on the medals. Kottas, 22, said: “I’m sure that most of you are aware of the crash that impacted half of the athletes – I didn’t expect my Commonwealth debut to be me crashing into the wall – but I continued and took bronze. “Unfortunately, the crash was deemed to have been caused by an athlete who has since been disqualified, hence the silver, but the para-athletics authorities have decided to rerun the race. “While I really don’t want to rerun the race – I’m lowkey traumatised – if I’m going to medal I want to do so on my own merit. “So I will go out and give it all I’ve got. If I don’t medal, so be it, I’ll still have the incredible memories of lifting that England flag.” Jonny Riall, Chef de Mission for Team England, said: “We are incredibly disappointed by the late decision to rerun the T54 1500m tomorrow morning. “While there is no formal protest process available to us, we have strongly challenged the decision. Nandini Sharma was disqualified from the race Credit: Reuters Kottas did not want the race to be re-run Credit: PA “The race officials did not halt the race at the time of the incident, nor was any immediate decision made to declare the race void or order a rerun. “Ellis and the team therefore proceeded on the understanding that all competition procedures had been completed and the result confirmed. “Our priority is the wellbeing of our athletes. “We will now do everything we can to support Ellis during the extremely short turnaround between receiving this news and being asked to race again.” A Team Scotland spokesperson: “We note the decision of the Jury of Appeal regarding the Women’s T54 1500 metres final. “Team Scotland athletes Melanie Woods and Joanna Robertson will now prepare to compete again on Friday in the rerun.” Comment now