Simbine stuns lacklustre Blake

South African claims 100M gold

Akani Simbine upset Jamaica's Yohan Blake to win the 100 metres gold medal for South Africa at the Commonwealth Games on Monday.

With a packed crowd at Carrara Stadium roaring, Simbine blazed down the straight and crossed ahead of team-mate Henricho Bruintjies in 10.03 seconds.

Blake struggled for balance after a messy start and finished with the bronze in a time of 10.19 seconds, after qualifying fastest with a time of 10.06 in the semifinals.

"I was stumbling all the way," the 28-year-old told reporters ruefully. I just didn't recover from it. It was a pretty easy race for me to win because I've been feeling good.

"It was just, never (going) to happen today, I don't know. I'm a bit disappointed because I've been feeling good, I've been running good."

Blake's compatriot and athletics great Usain Bolt congratulated his former team-mate and Simbine on Twitter.

"Well done @YohanBlake," he said.  "Keep putting in the work. You know your journey."

England runner Adam Gemili, a 4x100m relay gold medallist at the London world championships, pulled out before the final with a thigh injury.

Michelle-Lee Ahye held off a two-pronged Jamaican challenge to claim the women's 100m gold for Trinidad and Tobago in 11.14. Ahye edged Christania Williams (11.21), with her Jamaican team-mate Gayon Evans taking bronze.

New Zealand's world champion Tomas Walsh threw 21.41 metres to take the shot put gold, going one better than his silver at Glasgow.

Even with the absence of Wayde van Niekerk and reigning champion Kirani James, the men's 400 metres boasts quality and looks to be a battle between Botswana's flamboyant Isaac Makwala and Grenada's Rio Olympic finalist Bralon Taplin.

Makwala, who was barred from competing in the World Championships' 400m final in London last year over illness fears, qualified fastest for the final with a time of 45.00 seconds.

After crossing the line, the 31-year-old did two push-ups on the track to show his fitness and grinned at the TV camera.

Results:

Men:  100M: Akani Simbine (RSA) 10.03 seconds, 1;  Henricho  Bruintjies (RSA) 10.17, 2; Yohan Blake (JAM) 10.19, 3.

Shot put: Tomas Walsh (NZL) 21.41 metres, 1; Enekwechi Chukwuebuka (NGR) 21.14, 2; Tom Nedow (CAN) 20.91, 3.

Women:  100M: Michelle-Lee Ahye (TTO) 11.14, 1; Christania Williams (JAM) 11.21, 2; Gayon Evans (JAM) 11.22, 3.

10000M: Stella Chesang (UGA) 31:45.30, 1; Stacy Ndiwa (KEN) 31:46.36, 2; Mercyline Chelangat (UGA) 31:48.41, 3.