Jamaica's Lerone Clarke made the most of Usain Bolt's absence to claim the Commonwealth Games 100m gold on Thursday while Australia's Sally Pearson controversially powered to the women's crown. Clarke, the only man in the final to have broken 10 seconds in the past two years, dipped over the line in 10.12 to capitalise on world record holder Bolt and fellow Jamaican, defending champion Asafa Powell, choosing not to compete.
It was a powerful run in hot and humid conditions but, ultimately, very slow and a long way off Ato Boldon's Commonwealth record of 9.88 and even further behind Bolt's 9.58 world record. English hope Mark Lewis-Francis followed up his recent European championship silver with another one here, clocking 10.20 at a half-empty Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. Pearson became Australia's first Commonwealth Games 100m champion in 36 years when she crushed the field in 11.28 seconds, although England lodged a protest that could yet see her demoted. No medal ceremony was held and Australian team officials at the track said England had protested after Pearson was apparently not penalised for a false start.
Canada's Sultana Frizell, meanwhile, threw a new Games record of 68.57 metres to win the women's hammer gold while Canada's Dylan Armstrong won the men's shot put with a Games record throw of 21.02.
In other events, Botswana's Amantale Montsho was fastest into the women's 400m final on Friday in 50.80, almost a second ahead of Guyana's Tabitha Pompey. Earlier, Viola Kibiwot was the quickest into the women's 1,500m final as Kenya looks to reclaim its dominance of distance racing in Delhi after their men failed to win the 5,000m gold. Kibiwot, fifth at the 2008 Olympics, won her heat ahead of England's Helen Clitheroe and New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin and was five seconds faster than the woman who beat her to the title in Beijing, fellow Kenyan Nancy Langat. Langat ran in the second, slower heat, and won comfortably in 4:13.62 to keep plenty in reserve.
Canada's Armstrong claims men's shot put gold Canada's Dylan Armstrong won the men's shot put gold medal at the Commonwealth Games on Thursday with a new Games record throw of 21.02 metres. Jamaica's Dorian Scott won silver with 20.19, repeating his feat from Melbourne four years ago, while Australia's Dale Stevenson took the bronze.