GOLD COAST, Australia — University of New Mexico track & field alumnus Django Lovett earned a bronze medal in the high jump Wednesday morning at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Competing for his native Canada, Lovett cleared a personal-record 7 feet, 6 ½ inches (2.30 meters) in the high jump to capture third place and a podium spot at Carrara Stadium. His mark is tied for third in the world rankings in 2018.
A four-time NCAA Championship qualifier and five-time Mountain West champion in the high jump while at UNM from 2011-15, Lovett shined on the international stage.
He cleared the first two heights in the competition, 7-1 ¾ (2.18 meters) and 7-3 (2.21), without any problem before scaling the next two bars, 7-4 ¼ (2.24) and 7-5 ¼ (2.27), on his second attempts.
Lovett then set a new personal of 7-6 ½ (up from 7-5 ¼) on his third attempt before bowing out at 7-7 ¼ (2.32).
Australia’s Brandon Starc won gold at 7-7 ¼, while Jamaica’s Jamal Wilson (7-6 ½) took the silver over Lovett by virtue of fewer misses.
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