History made as Agnoletto strikes gold and Billings breaks 36-year drought on Day 8

Friday, 31 July delivered gold for Blake Agnoletto in the men’s elimination race and a history-making bronze for Sarah Billings in the women’s 800m, as VIS-supported athletes continued to build their medal tally with strong results across athletics and Para athletics, track cycling and Para track cycling, boxing and judo. 

Agnoletto claimed gold in the men’s elimination race with a masterclass performance on the Glasgow velodrome. 

Billings delivered a history-making run in the women’s 800m final, claiming bronze in 2:00.61 to secure Australia’s first medal in the event in 36 years. In a tactical race, she made a decisive move with 200 metres to run to earn her place on the podium. 

Jacob Cassar booked his place in the men’s 65kg final, defeating Poona Khoahli 5-0 in the semi-final. He will fight England’s Patris Mughalzai for gold on Day 9. 

There was plenty more for VIS-supported athletes to build on across the day. Brooke Buschkuehl qualified first in the women’s long jump with a season-best 6.83m. Cooper Sherman and the mixed 4x400m relay team finished second in their heat. Declan Tingay finished fourth in the men’s 10,000m race walk final. Alessia McCaig qualified through the women’s sprint before finishing second in her eighth-final heat, behind New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews. Alyssa Polites finished 12th in the women’s 10km scratch race final. In judo, Tinka Easton defeated Shraddha Kadubal Chopade 1-0 in the women’s minus 52kg quarter-final, before losing to Evelyn Beaton in the semi-final.

• VIS that competed on Day 8: 9
• Debutants that competed on Day 8: 2
• Medals:  
  • 11 Gold
  • 5 Silver
  • 3 Bronze

The Diamonds face Jamaica in the netball semi-final, from 6pm to 8pm AEST. In athletics and Para athletics, Jemima Montag and Rebecca Henderson contest the women’s 10,000m race walk final and Thomas Reynolds the men’s 400m final, both from 7pm to 10.45pm AEST. From 3.30am to 7.30am AEST on 2 August, Brooke Buschkuehl returns for the women’s long jump final, Peter Bol for the men’s 800m final, Seth O’Donnell for the men’s 5000m final, Adam Spencer for the men’s one mile final, Cooper Sherman for the mixed 4x400m relay final, and Abbey Caldwell and Claudia Hollingsworth for the women’s one mile final. 

Track cycling and Para track cycling continue with Blake Agnoletto in the men’s 10km scratch race and Alessia McCaig in the women’s 25km points race, both from 7pm to 10.30pm AEST, with finals in both events from midnight to 4am AEST on 2 August, alongside Jessica Gallagher’s women’s tandem B 1000m time trial final. 

In judo, Maeve Coughlan and Aoife Coughlan contest the women’s minus 63kg and minus 70kg quarter-finals and semi-finals from 8pm to 11pm AEST, with both finals from 1am to 3.45am AEST on 2 August. Jacob Cassar fights for gold in the men’s 65kg final against England’s Patris Mughalzai, from 8pm to 11.30pm AEST. 

• 6:00pm-8:00pm (AEST) – Australia v Jamaica Semi-Finals featuring VIS athletes Joanna Weston, Kate Moloney, Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin    

• 7:00pm-10:45pm (AEST) – Women’s 10,000 Race Walk Final featuring VIS athletes Jemima Montag and Rebecca Henderson 

• 7:00pm-10:45pm (AEST) – Men’s 400m Final featuring VIS athlete Thomas Reynolds  

• 3:30am-7:30am (2 Aug AEST) – Women’s Long Jump Final featuring VIS athlete Brooke Buschkuehl 

• 3:30am-7:30am (2 Aug AEST) – Men’s 800m Final featuring VIS athlete Peter Bol  

• 3:30am-7:30am (2 Aug AEST) – Men’s 5000m Final featuring VIS athlete Seth O’Donnell  

• 3:30am-7:30am (2 Aug AEST) – Men’s One Mile Final featuring VIS athlete Adam Spencer 

• 3:30am-7:30am (2 Aug AEST) – Mixed 4 x 400m Relay Final featuring VIS athlete Cooper Sherman 

• 3:30am-7:30am (2 Aug AEST) – Women’s One Mile Final featuring VIS athletes Abby Caldwell and Claudia Hollingsworth  

• 7:00pm-10:30pm (AEST) – Men’s 10km Scratch Race featuring VIS athlete Blake Agnoletto  

• 7:00pm-10:30pm (AEST) – Women’s 25km Points Race featuring VIS athlete Alessia McCaig 

• 12:00am-4:00am (2 Aug AEST) – Women’s Tandem B 1000m TT Final featuring VIS athlete Jessica Gallagher  

• 12:00am-4:00am (2 Aug AEST) – Women’s 25km Points Race Final featuring VIS athlete Alessia McCaig 

• 12:00am-4:00am (2 Aug AEST) – Men’s 10km Scratch Race Final featuring VIS athlete Blake Agnoletto  

• 8:00pm-11:00pm (AEST) – Women’s -63 kg Quarter-Finals featuring VIS athlete Maeve Coughlan 

• 8:00pm-11:00pm (AEST) – Women’s -70 kg Quarter-Finals featuring VIS athlete Aoife Coughlan 

• 8:00pm-11:00pm (AEST) – Women’s -63 kg Semi-Finals featuring VIS athlete Maeve Coughlan 

• 8:00pm-11:00pm (AEST) – Women’s -70 kg Semi-Finals featuring VIS athlete Aoife Coughlan 

• 1:00am-3:45am (2 Aug AEST) – Women’s -63 kg Finals featuring VIS athlete Maeve Coughlan 

• 1:00am-3:45am (2 Aug AEST) – Women’s -70 kg Finals featuring VIS athlete Aoife Coughlan 

8:00pm-11:30pm (AEST) – Men’s 65kg Final featuring Jacob Cassar