Sport
Grenada’s Kirani James in devastating form takes the gold in 400m at Commonwealth-Games
Grenada’s Kirani James holds his national flag in celebration after winning the men’s 400 m at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, July 30, 2014. PHOTO/Getty Images
Olympic champion Kirani James lit up the Commonwealth Games with a devastating and graceful run to win gold in the men’s 400 meters on Wednesday.
In a Games hampered by big-name withdrawals and weakened fields, the arrival of the powerful Grenadian was a welcome sight.
James took charge of the final from the start and looked in complete control as he finished in a Games record time of 44.24 seconds ahead of South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk and Trinidad & Tobago’s Lalonde Gordon.
“I expected to have a great performance,” James told reporters. “I can’t predict the outcome of the event but all I an do is come out here and try my best.
“Every championship, every accolade, is unique in its own way and these Games are no different.”
The 21-year-old James has won Olympic and world championship gold, but he said talk of breaking American Michael Johnson’s world record time of 43.18 was premature.
“I’m going to be 22 in September,” James said. “Michael Johnson set the record when he was nearly 32 so I’ve got 10 years to work with.”
Kenya dominated the women’s 3,000m steeplechase and claimed a clean sweep of medals as Purity Cherotich Kirui finished in a time of 9:30.96 ahead of Milcah Chemos Cheywa and Joan Kipkemoi. One of the biggest cheers of the session was reserved for David Rudisha, Kenya’s world 800 meters record holder and Olympic champion, who eased through his semi-final to confirm his place in Thursday’s final.
Source: Reuters