Peacock Takes Bronze
04 Aug 2014
Bronze medal for Hamish Peacock in Javelin
Hamish Peacock said he couldn't be happier after claiming a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games.
The 23-year-old had predicted that a throw over 80 metres should be enough to make the javelin podium and so it proved with the three medallists the only ones to pass the mark. "Second longest throw of my career in a major competition, I'm just so happy," he said. "Threw 80, got bronze, it worked out awesome."
In a high-quality javelin final contested through torrential rain at Glasgow's Hampden Park, the Eastern Suburbs athlete landed an 81.75m throw in the second round to sit in the silver medal position. However, Kenyan Julius Yego, who was fourth at the last world championships, overtook Peacock and Trinidad and Tobago's Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott with a third-round throw of 83.87 that ultimately won the competition.
Walcott improved his mark with a final round 82.67m to take silver.
With the knowledge that he was guaranteed a medal, Peacock also passed 80m for a second time in the final round with an 80.24. "It's pretty special really isn't it and I was behind two world class athletes, an Olympic champion and a high-placer from world champs, so to be close to them is just awesome," he said. "I've thrown a couple of PBs recently and was close today so it all came together on the day and I'm just really excited. To get a medal is awesome. It's pretty special, dreaming when you're younger about representing your country and performing on the big stage so to do that I'm just stoked and hopefully can go on to bigger and better things."
With his father Evan coaching him, mother Gabrielle watching on and brother Huw also in the Australian team, having earlier contested the hammer throw, Peacock said he was proud to come through the testing conditions. "It was interesting out there. The rain was forecast and it came so I was pleased to get a really good throw out early in the comp before it really bucketed down,” he said. "I think it's crucial in a big comp to take the pressure off yourself, so to bang out a big throw in the second round, I'm really happy with that and I'm certainly used to a bit of cold and wet conditions. Dad was out there coaching, Mum was watching and my brother's in the team so it was a real family affair for us."
Peacock, who has competed at youth, junior and senior world championships, has consistently thrown over 80m this season and set his PB of 82.24m shortly before the Games. He threw 79.08m on Friday to achieve automatic qualification for the final.