BASINGSTOKE and Mid Hants AC athlete Ben Pattison has qualified for the 800m final of the Commonwealth Games 800m at Birmingham after putting in a scintillating performance.

Winning Heat 3 in a time of 1:48.00, the athlete from Hook showed his class after an opening lap in 54.8s and took the lead with 150m to go and easily held off the chasing pack. 

Originally there were semi-finals planned but the organisers decided on the eve of the event to do away with the need for them and now Ben will be in the final to be held on Sunday evening at the Alexander Stadium.

READ MORE: Hook athlete to represent Team England at Commonwealth Games

Coach Dave Ragan who watched in the stands at Birmingham said immediately after the event that "it was heart in mouth stuff”, but he was always confident that Ben had it in him to qualify.

In an interview on television after the heat, Ben said that this was his first major event and he had been very nervous in the build-up, but he was pleased to see lots of people he knew and he had grown up with.

SEE ALSO: Hook fighting for survival after defeat against Totton

Ben now has four days to prepare for the final on the last day of athletics.

The final will be held at 6.30pm on Sunday, August 7.

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