Simbine leads South African quinella to bring down Blake in 100m final
Akani Simbine led home South African teammate Henricho Bruintjies to win gold in the men's 100 metres final at the Commonwealth Games, relegating Jamaica's Yohan Blake to the bronze.
It is South Africa's first victory in the event and while much of the Games build-up centred on Blake and those not competing on the Gold Coast, Simbine's triumph in 10.03 seconds is hardly a surprise.
The 24-year-old has been a consistent performer at the major championships in recent years, finishing fifth at the 2016 Rio Olympics and last year's world championships in London.
He had also produced solid form last month, running a then-season best of 10.05, while he holds a personal best of 9.89.
Simbine said winning Commonwealth Games gold was the highlight of his career.
"For me this is probably my best achievement so far," he said.
"I placed fifth at the Olympics, fifth at the World Championships, but this is my first international title."
It was Bruintjies who left the blocks first in front of an almost capacity crowd at Carrara, with Blake and Simbine, alongside each other in lanes seven and eight, getting out together.
Blake, who had finished one placed ahead of Simbine in both Rio and London, did not look comfortable in his drive phase and by the time he had found his rhythm it proved too late.
Simbine had been running his own race and he powered through the final 30 metres to post a comfortable victory, having enough time to thrust his right arm in the air in celebration.
Bruintjies was impressive in running 10.17 for the silver medal, just ahead of Blake, who ran 10.19.
Bruintjies told Simbine he would win gold when the competition got underway on Sunday, and he had hoped he too would claim a medal.
"I told Akani yesterday I knew he was going to go out fast and go for big things," he said.
"I said 'brah, you're going to take me to the podium'."
Ahye wins historic gold for Trinidad and Tobago
Michelle-Lee Ahye showed why she was the gold medal favourite in the women's 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games, winning the final with a clinical display of sprinting in Carrara.
Ahye won Trinidad and Tobago its first gold medal in the women's blue-ribband event, clocking 11.14 to beat home Jamaican pair Christania Williams (11.21) and Gayon Evans (11.22).
"I think my family and country will be very proud," Ahye said. "It means a lot to me to represent Trinidad and Tobago."
In a field weakened by the absence of Jamaica's Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, who is only contesting the 200m and the 4x100m relay on the Gold Coast, Ahye was the pre-Games favourite courtesy of her slick personal best of 10.82.
She was also the best-credentialed athlete in the final, having placed sixth at both the Rio Olympics and last year's world championships in London.
The 25-year-old, heavily tattooed and sporting dyed red dreadlocks, was among the quickest out of the blocks and she began to clear away from the field at the 60-metre mark.
Evans produced a mighty challenge in the outside side to finish strongly, but she could not catch Ahye nor her teammate Williams.
Ahye, who was Trinidad and Tobago's flagbearer in last Wednesday's opening ceremony, pumped her right fist as she crossed the finish line before falling on the track on the top bend in celebration.
She once again carried her country's flag as she embarked on a lap of honour and she will perhaps add another gold medal in the 4x100m relay later in the program, given the depth of Trinidad and Tobago sprinting.
[contf]
[contfnew]
ABC .net
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
