Thu, Jul 31, 2014 page19

• England’s men stun Australia in pool

  TRACK STARS: The first sprints of the track program at the Commonwealth Games were dominated by athletes from Jamaica, while Kenya won the long-distance events

  • AFP, GLASGOW
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  England achieved a stunning victory over Australia in the men’s 4x100m relay on the final day of swimming at the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday, while Jamaica dominated on the track.

  Australia bossed the six days of competition at Glasgow’s Tollcross International Swimming Centre and finished with an unprecedented haul of 57 medals, but they had to share the glory on the last day of competition.

  England’s Chris Walker-Hebborn, Adam Peaty, Adam Barrett and Adam Brown inflicted Australia’s first Commonwealth relay defeat in eight years by claiming gold in a Games-record time of 3 minutes, 31.51 seconds.

  

  From left, England’s Chris Walker-Hebborn, Adam Peaty and Adam Barrett celebrate after taking gold in the men’s 4 x 100m medley relay final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Tuesday.

  Photo: AFP

  “To come away with a gold medal and new Commonwealth Games record as well is amazing,” Walker-Hebborn said.

  South Africa’s third-place finish saw Chad le Clos end the meet with seven medals to his name.

  Australia also encountered disappointment in the men’s 50m freestyle final, where 19-year-old Englishman Benjamin Proud beat Cameron McEvoy and James Magnussen.

  On a memorable day for the home nations, Georgia Davies of Wales took gold in the 50m backstroke in an event-record time of 27.56 seconds, emulating countrywoman Jazz Carlin’s success in the 800m freestyle.

  However, Australia won the women’s 4x100m medley relay, while Aussie Daniel Tranter triumphed in the men’s 200m individual medley.

  He saw off Scotland’s 400m individual medley champion Dan Wallace — who arrived for the race wearing a kilt — and Le Clos in a Games-record time of 1:57.83.

  “We’ve had a really good meet together,” Tranter said of Australia’s success. “The crowd has really been amazing.”

  New Zealanders Lauren Boyle and Sophie Pascoe took the glory in the women’s 400m freestyle and parasport 200m individual medley respectively, with Canada’s Ryan Cochrane streaking to victory in the men’s 1,500m freestyle.

  On a cool night at Hampden Park, Andrew Riley led the way on a golden evening for Jamaica’s athletes with victory in the men’s 110m hurdles.

  With English defending champion Andy Turner failing to finish his semi-final after clattering the first hurdle and Jamaican Olympic bronze medalist Hansle Parchment a nonstarter, Riley capitalized to claim glory.

  The 25-year-old won in a time of 13.32 seconds, with Turner’s teammate William Sharman second and Barbados’ Shane Brathwaite third.

  Jamaica’s Stephanie McPherson timed her charge down the home straight to perfection in the women’s 400m final, surging past in-form compatriot Novlene Williams-Mills meters from the finish to win in 50.67 seconds.

  Christine Day pipped defending champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana on the line to give Jamaica a clean sweep of the podium.

  “I ran to the coach’s instructions and did the best that I can do,” McPherson said. “I was relaxed in the home straight and just swung my arms.”

  Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams also took gold in the women’s triple jump event.

  There was another one-two-three in the women’s 10,000m, where Joyce Chepkirui produced a late burst to lead Kenyan compatriots Florence Kiplagat and Emily Chebet to glory in a gripping race.

  “It was so close near the end, but I knew my body was in good shape,” Chepkirui said. “I’m so happy it was Kenya for one, two and three.”

  In further good news for Kenya, Faith Kibiegon took gold in the women’s 1,500m, while Olympic champion and world-record holder David Rudisha cruised into the semi-finals of the men’s 800m.

  A memorable evening for Canada saw Damian Warner complete victory in the men’s decathlon before Jim Steacy took the honors in the men’s hammer final.

  The Commonwealth Games was also rocked by its first doping case, as Nigerian weightlifter Chika Amalaha was provisionally suspended from the Games after testing positive after winning gold in the women’s 53kg category.

  The 16-year-old provided an “A” sample on Friday that revealed traces of diuretics and masking agents, the Commonwealth Games Federation announced. She was to have a “B” sample tested at a laboratory in London yesterday.

  England’s male and female gymnasts both won gold in the team competitions.

  The male team of Sam Oldham, Louis Smith, Kristian Thomas, Max Whitlock and Nile Wilson scored a total of 266.804 points at the Hydro to beat Scotland and Canada.

  The women, inspired by 16-year-old Claudia Fragapane, saw off Australia and Wales with a total of 167.555.

  Elsewhere, Jen McIntosh claimed a historic silver medal for Scotland in the women’s 50m rifle three positions.

  It was her fifth Commonwealth Games medal — breaking her own mother’s record for a Scottish woman — and it saw the host nation break their record for medals won at a single Games by lifting their overall tally to 34.

  They finished the day with 37.
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