Kenya flourish in Games’ athletics

Caleb Ndiku raced to gold and the first track medal at the Commonwealth Games as Kenya snatched a one-two in the men’s 5,000m final.

Ndiku, 21, the world indoor 3,000m champion, took advantage of Olympic and world champion Mo Farah’s absence to produce a performance to match his golden hair.

He won a pulsating final in 13 minutes, 12.07 seconds on a drizzly night at Hampden Park.

Compatriot Isiah Koech took silver in 13:14.06 as the Kenyan pair overtook New Zealand twins Jake and Zane Robertson, who had led for much of the race. Zane took the bronze in 13:16.52, a season’s best.

Shelley’s marathon gold

Australian Michael Shelley and Kenya’s Flomena Cheyech Daniel took gold in the men’s and women’s marathons as the Commonwealth Games took to the streets of Glasgow.

Shelley, who won silver four years ago in Delhi, became the first Australian to win the Games marathon for 20 years and the first to claim consecutive medals in the event since Steve Moneghetti in 1990 and 1994.

Kenya’s Stephen Chemlany clinched silver and Abraham Kiplimo of Uganda took bronze, both winning the first medals for their countries in Glasgow.

It was also Uganda’s first Games medal ever in the men’s marathon.

More Kenyan medals followed soon afterwards when Daniel capped an excellent performance to win gold ahead of compatriot Caroline Kilel.

Australia Jess Trengove added to her country’s burgeoning medal tally when she crossed the line for bronze to cheers from a large crowd on a drizzly day in Scotland.

“I’ve got to pinch my self, it is very exciting,” Shelley told reporters. “To come back and actually win is indescribable. Now I have had a bit more experience, to come away with my first win is indescribable.”