Glasgow: Kemar Bailey-Cole maintained Jamaica’s 100-metre men’s supremacy in the absence of illustrious teammate Usain Bolt at the Commonwealth Games on Monday, but Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare spoiled their hopes of a sprint double.
The 22-year-old Bailey-Cole came back from a poor start to power through in 10.00 seconds, with England’s Adam Gemili just edging out Nickel Ashmeade to take second in 10.10 seconds.
Bolt, a six-time Olympic medallist and double sprint world record holder, will only compete in the 4x100-metres in Glasgow.
“It means a lot because it’s my first individual medal at a championship. It’s just the start of the individual medals,” Bailey-Cole said.
“The aim was to come out here and win and I did just that. I said to myself ‘these guys can’t beat me’.”
But there was no Jamaican double joy in the women’s 100-metres as Okagbare produced a scintillating run to claim gold in a new Games record of 10.85 seconds.
For Okagbare, her victory was one step on her path to a Commonwealth treble as she also competes in the 200-metres and long jump.
Jamaican duo Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart had to settle for silver and bronze respectively at Hampden Park.
“A new season’s best and a win,” said Okagbare. “I’m happy I was able to put on a show.
“I still have the 200-metres and the long jump and I’m looking forward to both of those events now.”
In the field, Jamaican O’Dayne Richards won the men’s shot put in a Games record 21.61 metres, as Canada’s Sultana Frizell threw another meet record of 71.97 metres to defend her hammer title.
Over in the pool, Australia claimed two more titles and podium sweeps but South Africa and England also won double gold on the night.
Australia won two of their four gold medals of the day in the Tollcross swimming venue to sit top of the overall medals table with 30 gold.
England are second with 27 gold, with hosts Scotland holding 13, topping their previous record tally of 11 won at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Cate Campbell added Commonwealth Games 100-metres freestyle gold to her world title as she edged out sister Bronte, with Emma McKeon completing an all-Australian podium. The 22-year-old smashed the Commonwealth record set by Bronte earlier in the meet in a time of 52.68 seconds.
Mitch Larkin led a sweep in the men’s 200-metre backstroke ahead of Josh Beaver and Matson Lawson.
Back on top of podium
South Africa’s star duo Cameron van der Burgh and Chad le Clos were both back on top of the podium.
Van der Burgh gained revenge on Adam Peaty with victory in the men’s 50-metre breaststroke, as Le Clos set a new Games record on his way to victory in the men’s 100-metre butterfly.
England’s Sophie Taylor came out on top in the women’s 100-metre breaststroke after compatriot Ollie Hynds had won the men’s Para-Sport 200-metre individual medley SM8.
Jazz Carlin became Wales’ first Commonwealth Games swimming gold medallist for 40 years in the women’s 800-metre freestyle, with Audrey Lacroix giving Canada gold in the women’s 200-metre butterfly.
In squash, Nicol David and Nick Matthew both successfully retained their singles titles.
Matthew, 34, beat compatriot James Willstrop 11-9, 8-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5 at Scotstoun Sports Campus to become the oldest individual gold medal winner in squash. Peter Barker completed an English podium sweep.
David, meanwhile, crushed English world champion Laura Massaro 12-10, 11-2, 11-5 in a one-sided women’s final that lasted just 44 minutes.
In weightlifting, Marie Fegue won the women’s 69kg weightlifting category to hand Cameroon their first Commonwealth Games gold medal since 2002.
The evening session saw New Zealand’s Richard Patterson win gold in the men’s 85kg final.
In shooting, Australia claimed two gold medals as Warren Potent set a Games record in the final of the men’s 50-metre rifle prone and Laetisha Scanlan qualified in last place in the women’s trap, but beat Georgia Konstantinidou in the gold medal match.
Sally Johnston won New Zealand’s first shooting gold of the Games in the women’s 50-metre prone event, as Jitu Rai gave India a seventh gold medal in the men’s 50-metre pistol event.
Singapore retained their men’s table tennis team title after beating England 3-1 and Malaysia successfully defended their badminton mixed team crown with a 3-1 victory over England.
In bowls, South Africa defeated Northern Ireland 19-10 to take the men’s triples gold and Scotland’s Alex Marshall and Paul Foster were too good for Malaysia in the men’s pairs final, winning 20-3.
