Glasgow: Australia’s Michael Shelley stunned the favourites from east Africa to win the men’s marathon gold at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday, but Flomena Daniel spearheaded a Kenyan one-two in the women’s race.
Shelley, who finished 16th in the London Olympics, clocked a personal best of 2hr 11min 15sec on the largely flat course around the streets of Glasgow to better his silver-medal showing in Delhi four years ago.
Kenya’s Stephen Chemlany, a pacemaker for compatriot Patrick Makau’s world record run in the Berlin marathon last year, when he went on to finish fourth in a personal best of 2:06.24, claimed silver in 2:11.58.
Uganda’s Abraham Kiplimo took bronze at 1:08.
“I’ve got to pinch myself, it is very exciting. To come back and actually win is indescribable,” said Shelley. “Now I have had a bit more experience, to come away with my first win is indescribable.”
Shortly afterwards, Daniel broke clear late on from teammate Kilel to record a convincing Kenyan double in the women’s race.
This year’s Paris marathon winner timed 2hr 26min 45sec, with Kilel claiming silver at 25sec.
Australian Jess Trengrove produced a strong last third to reel in Namibia’s Helalia Johannes for bronze at 3:27.
The marathons kicked off the Games athletics programme in the city streets, with the action switching later in the day to Hampden Park.
In the pool, world champion Cate Campbell looked in supreme form as she cruised into the semi-finals of the women’s 100-metre freestyle.
The Australian exacted a little revenge on Fran Halsall after being beaten to gold in the 50m freestyle by the Englishwoman on Saturday by qualifying fastest in a time of 53:20sec.
“It was a pretty fast heat swim, but I know from experience that if you go too slowly you start to shut down the systems.
“I always get more nervous before the 50-metres. It is not my bread and butter anymore. I have moved to the main course in the 100-metres.”
Just as in Saturday’s men’s 100-metre breaststroke, 19-year-old Englishman Adam Peaty beat South African world record holder Cameron van der Burgh into second place in qualifying fastest for the 50-metre breaststroke semi-finals.
Peaty set another new Commonwealth Games record of 27:00 sec in the process, with Scotland’s Ross Murdoch qualifying third fastest.
“It was good. I didn’t think I would have to swim that fast this morning,” said Peaty.
The quarter-finals of the rugby sevens at Ibrox Park saw wins for New Zealand over Kenya (19-7), Australia over Wales (21-19), Samoa over England (15-14) and South Africa over Scotland (35-12).
The first two shooting golds of the day at Carnoustie on Scotland’s east coast both went to England.
Charlotte Kerwood took the women’s double trap ahead of Shreyasi Singh of India and Rachel Parish of England, while Steven Scott was first in the men’s double trap in front of countryman Matthew French and Asab Mohammad of India.
South Africa won gold in the women’s lawn bowls four, defeating Malaysia in the final.
