THE Commonwealth Games is in full swing and Oxfordshire stars are playing their part.

It is a big day for Kidlington’s Jade O’Dowda, who is in contention for a medal heading into the final three events of the heptathlon at Birmingham 2022.

The former Oxford City AC youngster has given a good account of herself in her first experience of a major championships at senior level.

READ MORE: Jade O'Dowda impresses in heptathlon at Commonwealth Games

Solid showings in the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200m yesterday put O’Dowda fifth in the standings on 3,582 points.

The 22-year-old was only 22 points behind third-placed Taneille Crase going into today’s action at the Alexander Stadium.

O’Dowda got under way in the long jump at 10.50am and will be looking for a strong performance to keep her in medal contention this evening.

The heptathlon finishes with the javelin shortly after 7pm and the 800m at 9pm.

O’Dowda is competing for Team England, but Bicester swimmer Kieran Bird represented Wales in Birmingham.

The ex-Cooper School pupil had a bittersweet first Commonwealth Games, finishing fourth in the 4x200m freestyle relay final.

Bird swam the anchor leg and was just pipped by Scotland star Duncan Scott, but he did help Wales smash the national record for the event with a time of 7min 10.640secs.

READ MORE: Kieran Bird inches away from Commonwealth Games final

It came after he finished fourth in his heats for both the individual 200m freestyle and 400m freestyle, just missing out on a place in the final.

Tanya Watson will hope to have more success at Sandwell Aquatics Centre when the diving gets under way tomorrow.

The Team Northern Ireland member attends St Peter’s College at Oxford University, where she reads chemistry.