Kenya bags first gold as Daniel wins marathon
Kenya's Flomena Cheyech Daniel runs toward the tape at the finish line to win the women's marathon athletics event at the Glasgow City Marathon Course during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on July 27, 2014. Flomena Daniel led teammate Caroline Kilel to a convincing Kenyan one-two in the women's marathon at the Commonwealth Games. This year's Paris marathon winner timed 2hr 26min 45sec. PHOTO | AFP
Flomena Daniel led teammate Caroline Kilel to a convincing Kenyan one-two in the women's marathon at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday.
This year's Paris marathon winner timed 2hr 26min 45sec, with Kilel claiming silver at 25sec.
Australian Jess Trengrove produced a strong last third to reel in Namibia's Helalia Johannes for bronze, at 3:27.
In men's marathon, Australian Michael Shelley produced a stunning final 8km to trump a favoured east African field and claim gold at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday.
Kenya's Stephen Chemlany, a pacemaker for compatriot Patrick Makau's world record run in the Berlin marathon in 2011 when he went on to finish fourth in a personal best of 2:06.24, claimed silver in 2:11.58.
Shelley, who finished 16th in the London Olympics, clocked a personal best of 2hr 11min 15sec on the largely flat course around the streets of Glasgow, to better his silver-medal showing in Delhi four years ago.
"I've got to pinch myself, it is very exciting. To come back and actually win is indescribable," said Shelley. "Now I have had a bit more experience, to come away with my first win is indescribable."
"You just try to run the best you possibly can and it was a dream to be honest. I'm still buzzing, I can't believe it."
Shelley added: "It probably wasn't until a kilometre out that I got a bit of a feeling. I just kept pushing on. My main idea was to stay relaxed and I was always there in the lead group.
"At 35k there was a surge. I just had to stay strong and it paid off."
