Olympic champions Rudisha, Pearson take centre stage

FE Team | Published: August 01, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: July 31, 2014 21:38:54

GLASGOW: Gold medallist Claudia Fragapane (C), silver medallist Ruby Harrold (L) and bronze medallist Hannah Whelan, all of England, pose for photograph during the medal ceremony after the Women\'s All-Around final of the Artistic Gymnastics event during

GLASGOW, July 31 (AFP): Olympic champions David Rudisha and Sally Pearson take centre stage at the Commonwealth Games Thursday where seven medals are up for grabs on the fifth day of track and field.
Kenya's Rudisha, who set a blistering world record when winning Olympic gold in London in 2012, will go in the 800m against arch-rival Nijel Amos of Botswana.
"I'm happy to have qualified through the heat and the semi-finals. I am looking forward to the final. The final is my main competition and I am looking forward to it," said Rudisha.
In the absence of Usain Bolt, Jamaica's world silver and Olympic bronze medallist Warren Weir and teammates Jason Livermore and Rasheed Dwyer will be hoping to emulate Kemar Bailey-Cole's victory in the men's 100m.
The men's 400m hurdles also features a strong line-up for the final, with Jehue Gordon gunning for Trinidad and Tobago's first track gold, but with South African Cornel Fredericks looking strong.
There are also finals in the men's discus, while the women also have the 400m hurdles and discus.
Australia's Olympic champion Sally Pearson will be hoping to put the controversy over suspended head coach Eric Hollingsworth behind her when she takes to the track for heats in the 100m hurdles.
Hollingsworth was suspended Wednesday after disparaging comments about the star hurdler missing a pre-Games training camp.
The focus for cycling turns to the road with the individual time trial.
As the reigning Commonwealth Games champion, Scotland's David Millar will be looking to defend that title over the 40km circuit around Glasgow and surrounding areas.
This marks his final season as a professional cyclist and he will be determined to finish his career in style.
His chances have been boosted by the absence of Bradley Wiggins' name on the start sheet after the former Tour de France winner opted to focus on the track, where he won silver in the Team pursuit for England.
Millar will face tough opposition from Alex Dowsett of England, who took silver in Dehli four years ago, and Welsh rider Geraint Thomas who arrives in Scotland on the back of claiming his highest ever finish of 22nd in the Tour de France.