England’s Joanna Rowsell produced a stunning performance in the 3,000-metres individual pursuit as she claimed Commonwealth Games gold to match her winning effort at this year’s World Championship.
Rowsell broke Katie Mactier’s eight-year-old Games record in qualification, overtaking Lauren Ellis on the track and topping the time sheets with a time of three minutes and 29.038 seconds.
That pitted her against Australian Annette Edmondson, sister of men’s pursuit winner Alex, in the gold medal race and she cruised to victory.
The final margin of victory was a decisive 3.835 seconds as Rowsell relentlessly gained ground at almost every split.
Rowsell was ecstatic to triumph in Glasgow.
“I really, really wanted this,” she said on BBC One. “With the IP out of the Olympics now, this is the biggest event I can do for the individual pursuit. It’s the event I was originally talent-spotted for when I started, so it means a lot to me.
“It’s fantastic to win here today. I’m absolutely over the moon.”
Rowsell’s success, a consummate and apparently effortless example of pursuit riding, was at odds with her fellow Olympic team pursuit partners Laura Trott and Dani King, who failed to qualify for the medal races.
Rowsell, whose final run came in at 3:31.615, was flanked by the Australia pair Edmondson and Amy Cure at the medal ceremony.
She said: “Ever since the Olympics I’ve been thinking about this event. Something like this only comes round once every four years and after the Olympics it was the thought of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow that really spurred me on.”
Jason Kenny’s bid to land England’s second gold in the space of an hour at the velodrome fell just short as he was edged into silver by New Zealand’s Sam Webster in the men’s sprint.
The three-time Olympic champion, who came from behind to beat Australia’s Peter Lewis in the semi-finals, could not repeat the feat as Webster took the deciding race on the line.
Australia’s Jack Bobridge retained his men’s 4,000m individual pursuit Commonwealth Games title.
The world-record holder saw off world champion and fellow Australian Alex Edmondson in the final.
New Zealand claimed bronze as veteran Marc Ryan powered home ahead of Owain Doull from Wales.
Brownlee brothers will feature in new triathlon team relay event
Alistair and Jonny Brownlee will join forces for Saturday’s team relay after landing gold and silver in the individual triathlon, but they will still be competing against each other.
The brothers dominated the men’s race on Thursday, with the Olympic champion Alistair again getting the better of his younger brother over the course at Strathclyde Country Park.
The relay, which comprises two women and two men each completing a mini-triathlon in turn, is in the programme at a major Games for the first time.
England go in as clear favourites to complete a clean sweep of triathlon golds, with the Brownlees expected to be joined by women’s champion Jodie Stimpson and bronze medallist Vicky Holland. The brothers compete against each other in everything they do, from board games to domestic chores, and the relay is no different.
Alistair said: “I still want to beat him. We still get competitive about who gets the fastest relay time.
“Jonny got me in Hamburg but it was the situation in the race. He was just doing a time trial as fast as he could whereas I was racing. And my bit was a bit longer.”
Jonny gave short shrift to his brother’s complaint, saying: “He crossed the line and looked at the time and my time was faster than his.
“But first and foremost is the race itself.
“If the race goes a certain way I’m not going to be pushing it on just to try to beat Alistair’s time. I’m going to be thinking about the race.
“Relays are great to race. I love racing them; it’s fast and furious, it changes so quickly and it’s exciting to be part of.
“We don’t get to race as a team that much so I enjoy that.”
Each competitor in the relay completes a 250-metre swim, 6km bike and 1.6km run, with the first three tagging their teammate before the final athlete races to the finish.
Australia, New Zealand and Canada are likely to provide England with their main competition but the other home nations are also hoping to figure prominently.
Wales concerned over second doping scandal
Welsh Athletics has vowed to carry out an internal review after a second drugs scandal hit the team at the Commonwealth Games.
The European 400 metres hurdles champion Rhys Williams has been suspended after failing a drugs test. The 800m runner Gareth Warburton was withdrawn nine days ago.
Welsh Athletics said: “We are concerned that this is the second anti-doping violation … and will be conducting our own internal review.”
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