Marathon golds for Australia, Kenya

GLASGOW, July 27 (AFP): Australia's Michael Shelley stunned a favoured east African field to win the men's marathon gold at the Commonwealth Games Sunday with Flomena Daniel leading 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 where the final in the men's 5000m was on the schedule, along with heats in both the men and women's 100m.

In the absence of Mo Farah, Uganda's Moses Kipsiro has a better chance to defend his title in the 5000m, but will be up against a strong Kenyan duo in world bronze medallist Isiah Kiplangat Koech and Caleb Ndiku, the recently-crowned world 3000m indoor champion.

In the pool world champion Cate Campbell looked in supreme form as she cruised into the semi-finals of women's 100m freestyle.

The Australian exacted a little revenge on Fran Halsall after being beaten to gold in the 50m freestyle by the Englishwoman 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 50m. It is not my bread and butter anymore. I have moved to the main course in the 100m."

Halsall was second fastest as she attempted to save her energy ahead of going for a second gold in the 50m butterfly later Sunday.

The highlight of Sunday evening's session, though, will be the battle for the men's 100m freestyle gold between Australian duo James Magnussen and Cameron McEvoy.

Just as in Saturday's men's 100m 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 50m breaststroke semi-finals.