Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon won the 100-metre dash at the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday in Glasgow, setting a new Games record of 9.83 seconds; while several African athletes also excelled, according to World Athletics.
Emmanuel Eseme won the race in 9.83 seconds, setting a new Games record and a national record, according to World Athletics.
In pouring rain, the African champion finished ahead of Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy, who took silver in 9.85 seconds – an Oceania record – and Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi, who placed third in 9.90 seconds.
South Africa’s Gift Leotlela finished fourth in 9.91 seconds.
Eseme, 32, had already improved his national record in the semifinals with a time of 9.89 seconds. His performance places him third on the all-time African list for the 100 metres and among the world’s top sprinters this season.
In the 3,000-metre steeplechase, Kenya swept the top three spots thanks to Edmund Serem, who won in 8:18.23, ahead of his compatriots Simon Koech and Leonard Bett.
In the women’s 10,000-metre race, Kenya’s Diana Wanza took the silver medal in 31:50.13, behind Australia’s Rose Davies. Rwanda’s Florence Niyonkuru won the bronze, giving Rwanda its first-ever medal at the Commonwealth Games.
In the hammer throw, Canada’s Camryn Rogers broke the Games record with a throw of 74.91 m, while her compatriot Ethan Katzberg set a new men’s record of 80.97 m.
The Commonwealth Games continue in Glasgow with several track and field events scheduled through the course of the week.
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