Kenya’s Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku won the men’s 5,000m gold and compatriot Flomena Cheyech Daniel took the women’s marathon gold on day 1 of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Sunday.
[link id=”478″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Caleb Ndiku”], the world indoor 3,000m champion, won his second major title of the year in 13:12:07 ahead of compatriot Isaiah Koech (13:14.06) with New Zealand’s Zane Robertson third in 13:16.52.
Ndiku paced his effort to perfection, gradually moving through the pack as the laps ticked down. By the last lap, he surged clear with 250m remaining from the field.
Later he told the media at Glasgow 2014 he didn’t like the cold weather, but he adapted: “The weather was tricky,” he said. “I don’t like this weather as I come from a very hot region and I was surprised when I saw it was raining.”
“At the beginning all the Kenyans were shivering. In most cases the muscles don’t feel so free when running. It was tricky, but by the seventh lap I could feel my body was responding well to the climate.”
Ndiku later wrote on his Facebook page that the celebratory dance yesterday was a tribute to his best friend and trainer Peter who passed on recently.
Shock win
Australian Michael Shelley, silver medallist from Delhi 2010, won a surprise Commonwealth gold over the Africans in the Men’s marathon. He ran a perfectly judged race to clock a personal best of 2:11:15
Kenya’s Stephen Chemlany took the silver in 2:11:58 with Abraham Kiplimo out-sprinting fellow Ugandan Munyo Mutai to take the bronze medal in 2:12:23.
Paris Marathon winner, [link id=”130″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Flomena Cheyech Daniel”] of Kenya won the women’s race in 2:26:45 ahead of team-mate Caroline Kilel, who settles for silver. Australia’s Jess Trengove took the bronze in 2:30:12 after [link id=”86″ tax=”category” text=”Namibia”]’s Helalia Jonannes faded badly with 2 km to go, finishing fifth.
In the women’s 100m heats, [link id=”5″ tax=”category” text=”Nigeria”]’s [link id=”158″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Blessing Okagbare”] led the qualifiers for Monday’s semi-finals with a comfortable time of 11.20 seconds.
Selected Results
5000m Men Final
1 Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku Ken 13:12.07
2 Isiah Kiplangat Koech Ken 13:14.06
3 Zane Robertson Nzl 13:16.52
4 Joseph Kiplimo Kitur Ken 13:17.49
5 Mohammed Ahmed Can 13:18.88 PB
6 Andy Vernon Eng 13:22.32
7 Thomas Farrell Eng 13:23.96
8 Moses Kipsiro Uga 13:28.23
9 Jake Robertson Nzl 13:29.69
10 Nick Willis Nzl 13:34.46
11 Timothy Toroitich Uga 13:35.02
12 Collis Birmingham Aus 13:35.44
13 Luke Caldwell Sco 13:43.75
14 Fabiano Nelson Sulle Tan 13:44.65 PB
15 Moses Kibet Uga 13:49.81
16 Cyriaque Ndayikengurukiye Rwa 13:50.55 PB
17 Pontien Ntawuyirushintege Rwa 14:03.93 PB
18 Wilbaldo Peter Malley Tan 14:10.92
19 Chauncy Master Maw 14:11.61 PB
20 Kefasi Chitsala Maw 14:26.01
21 Mothimokholo Hatasi Les 14:44.93
22 Thabo Ntlaloe Les 14:47.01
23 Kabelo Lesia Les 15:08.91
24 Rosefelo Siosi Sol 16:55.33 NR
Marathon Men Final
1 Michael Shelley Aus 2:11:15
2 Stephen Chemlany Ken 2:11:58 +0:43
3 Abraham Kiplimo Uga 2:12:23 +1:08
4 Munyo Solomon Mutai Uga 2:12:26 +1:11
5 John Ekiru Kelai Ken 2:12:41 +1:26
6 Erick Ndiema Ken 2:13:44 +2:29
7 Liam Adams Aus 2:13:49 +2:34
8 Philip Kiplimo Uga 2:14:09 +2:54
9 Derek Hawkins Sco 2:14:15 +3:00
10 Steven Way Eng 2:15:16 +4:01
11 Fabiano Joseph Naasi Tan 2:15:21 +4:06
12 Tsepo Ramonene Les 2:16:21 +5:06
13 Nicholas Torry Eng 2:16:34 +5:19
14 Ben Moreau Eng 2:16:50 +5:35
15 Ramolefi Motsieloa Les 2:17:12 +5:57
16 Ross Houston Sco 2:18:42 +7:27
Marathon Women Final
1 Flomena Cheyech Daniel Ken 2:26:45
2 Caroline Kilel Ken 2:27:10
3 Jess Trengove Aus 2:30:12
4 Lanni Marchant Can 2:31:14
5 Helalia Luleiko Johannes Nam 2:32:02
6 Susan Partridge Sco 2:32:18
7 Louise Damen Eng 2:32:59
8 Melanie Panayiotou Aus 2:35:01
9 Amy Whitehead Eng 2:35:06
10 Sarah Klein Aus 2:35:21
11 Beata Naigambo Nam 2:39:23
12 Gladys Ganiel NI 2:40:29
13 Hayley Haining Sco 2:40:40
14 Joasia Zakrzewski Sco 2:45:29
15 Tereza Master Maw 2:50:54
16 Ntahleng Masaile Les 2:51:30
Meet The Authors
Yomog Meje is a former Nigerian junior athlete and the Associate editor at Athletics Africa.
