CG Day 1 - Rose blooms with gold medal

28 July 2026

CG Day 1 - Rose blooms with gold medal

Merewether’s Rose Davies has run the race of her life to clinch gold in the women’s 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games. On paper going into the event, she was ranked second, with Joy Cheptoyek (UGA) and Miriam Chebet (KEN) the main threats, but in the end they would not be a factor.

Rose remained in the large pack, which ran some pedestrian laps of 82 seconds. Just before the 9km mark, Kenya’s Diana Wanza broke away from the pack, building up a three seconds lead on the only follower Rose. But Rose was not done yet and chased her hard, reeling her in with 600m to go. Rose motored past her and within 100m had a three second lead over Diana.Rose went on for a 10 second win in 31:39.32 with Kenyan Diana Wanza clocking 32:50.13.

“I'm so happy. I haven't really processed it all yet, but at the moment I'm stoked,” said Rose.

Rose was feeling comfortable toward the end of the race.

“You always have to back yourself, and because it was so slow early on, I wasn't feeling too bad at the pointy end of the race. I trusted my speed, and I'm glad I did.”

Was she worried when KenyanDiana Wanza broke away:

“She went hard, so I was just hoping that she'd get tired and I could run her down. With three laps to go, I was close, so I thought, ‘You know, you can do it.’ - I backed myself.”

She will next hit the track Friday morning AEST in the women’s 5000m final

“I don't run 10 kms as often as 5 kms, so I think I'm more confident in the 5 km just because I'm more used to it.”

Over the last five years since the Tokyo Olympics, under the astute coaching of Olympian Scott Westcott, Rose has made a clear progression, not just in time, but in championship places:

2021 Tokyo Olympics: heat 5000m (34th overall)

2022 World Championships: heat 5000m (27th overall)

2023 World Championships heat 5000m (19th overall)

2024 Paris Olympics: final 5000m (12th overall)

2025 World Championships final 5000m (10th overall)

Also 2022 Commonwealth Games 17th 5000m

Rose became the first Australian woman to win the race, following three medals at the 1998 and 2002 Games. No Australian women has finished on the podium in the 10,000m at a world championships or Olympics. Our only success at 10,000m was in the men’s when Wollongong’s Dave Power won the men’s 10,000m at the 1958 Cardiff Games.

Cherrybrook athlete, Julie Charlton placed 7th in the F57 shot put. Making her second consecutive appearance at the Games, Julie improved from her 9th place in Birmingham. Today she nailed a best distance of 6.19m in her second attempt. 

Brisbane-based Sydney Uni athlete, Liam Adcock progressed successfully to the long jump final. His first-round effort of 7.74 wind assisted took him to 9th overall qualifier for the final.

In the first track event of the day, Rohan Browning progressed into the men’s 100m semis clocking 10.24. He was the 16th ranked athlete to progress, where he will join his other two Australian teammates.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Rose Davies (copyright Fred Etter)