Sprint storm at Games as swimmers fall ill

Delhi’s Commonwealth Games, already reeling from an epic series of bodyblows, was mired in more controversy yesterday when Australia and England clashed over the destination of the women’s 100m title.

Sally Pearson thought she had become Australia’s first Commonwealth Games 100m champion in 36 years when she raced to victory in 11.28sec.

But no medal ceremony was held at the half-empty Jawaharlal Nehru stadium after England lodged a protest claiming Pearson should have been penalised for a false start.

It was later revealed that Pearson had been stripped of her victory when the revised result sheet for the final confirmed her disqualification.

“However, the Australian Commonwealth Games Association was appealing the decision before a Jury of Appeal,” said a statement from the Games official news service.

Instead, England’s Laura Turner was held responsible, although after some animated words with judges on the start line she ran the race under appeal, only to finish last.

Nigeria were also believed to have protested as a confirmed disqualification would hand the gold to Osayemi Oludamola, who was second on the night, finishing just ahead of Natasha Mayers of St Vincent and The Grenadines.

The controversy overshadowed the men’s 100m final which was won by Jamaica’s Lerone Clarke, who made the most of Usain Bolt’s decision to skip the race.

Clarke dipped over the line in 10.12 with English hope Mark Lewis-Francis in silver and Trinidad and Tobago’s Aaron Amstrong grabbing bronze.

The 100m drama came at the end of a day which had seen over 50 swimmers fall ill.

Around 40 English and 12 Australian swimmers had complained of feeling unwell after competing at the S.P. Mukherjee Aquatics Complex, with team officials insisting that the problem area was the warm-up pool.

“We must investigate this immediately. If the water is unsafe then clearly you can’t swim in it,” said Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell.

The problems in the pool are the latest to plague the ill-starred Games after the build-up was marred by allegations of corruption, terrorism fears, shoddy workmanship and big-name withdrawals.

On a day when 35 golds were being decided, Australia’s track cyclists made history by picking up a record 10th gold from 11 events through wins in the men’s and women’s sprints, the women’s scratch and the men’s team pursuit.

Meares wins

Anna Meares took the women’s sprint title to cap a performance which has seen her take Commonwealth records in two events.

Shane Perkins took gold in the sprint a day after being disqualified from the keirin while Australia smashed their own Commonwealth record to take gold in the men’s 4,000m team pursuit.

Teenager Megan Dunn picked up her second gold in as many days in the 10km scratch to add to her 25km points race win.

In the pool, Australia weren’t so dominant, winning just one of the four finals.

However, it was a memorable victory with Alicia Coutts winning a third gold of the week by adding the 100m butterfly to her 200m individual medley and 100m freestyle titles.

Pint-sized Yukio Peter gave the tiny Pacific island of Nauru their first gold medal of these Games when he clinched the men’s weightlifting 77kg victory.