Commonwealth Games: Allan Smith gets job done to reach high jump final

Allan Smith aced a do-or-die clearance before booking his spot in Wednesday's high jump final at the Commonwealth Games.

Allan Smith

The Capital hope failed twice at 2.18 metres before surviving at the third attempt and he then cleared 2.21m to join fellow Scot David Smith in the battle for gold.

And the 25-year-old, who was kicked off the team on the eve in Glasgow 2014 for disciplinary reasons, admitted he’d had to hold his nerve.

“It’s a bit like penalties, you can’t practice it,” he said. “I have the experience now. Once you are out there in the big stadiums with big crowds, you have to relax and not get hyped up too early. You just have to try not to let the nerves take control.”