Simbine upsets Blake to win 100 metres 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 semi-finals.

Day 5 - Commonwealth Games #GC2018

Akani Simbine shocked Yohan Blake to win the men's 100m, with Michelle-Lee Ahye making history to win gold in the women's race. There was yet more joy for Australia, with the home nations doing well too! ➡️ https://t.co/LWbBbDnMbw pic.twitter.com/aDosrAxZwW— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 9, 2018

"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."

Well done @YohanBlakeKeep putting in the work. You know your journey ????

— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) April 9, 2018

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."

Well done @YohanBlakeKeep putting in the work. You know your journey ????

— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) April 9, 2018

The path to gold was made smoother for Simbine, with England runner Adam Gemili, a 4x100m relay gold medallist at the London world championships, pulling 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. World and Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya kicked off her bid for a Commonwealthdouble with a comfortable win in the 1,500m heats in four minutes and 05.86 seconds. The South Africa flag bearer raced within herself but still qualified fastest for Tuesday's final ahead of home runner Georgia Griffith (4:06.41) and Kenya's Mary Kuria.

Michelle-Lee Ahye takes gold in the women's 100m! ?

The first Commonwealth Games gold for a female athlete from Trinidad & Tobago! #GC2018 #bbcgoldcoast #GC2018Athletics https://t.co/y9NOkc0thE pic.twitter.com/1GuuywXbJX— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 9, 2018

Kuria's compatriot and medal contender Winny Chebet crashed out, however, when she fell some 70 metres from the finish after clipping the leg of local Linden Hall. 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.

Botswana’s Isaac Makwala will be joined by countryman Baboloki Thebe in the Men's 400m final after winning the 1st semi-final #GC2018

— SuperSport Blitz (@SuperSportBlitz) April 9, 2018

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. 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. Stella Chesang fought off Kenya's Stacy Ndiwa to take the 10,000m gold for Uganda and win her maiden Commonwealth medal.