Glasgow marathon golds for Aussie Shelley, Kenyan Daniel

Glasgow (AFP) - Australia's Michael Shelley stunned the favourites from east Africa to win the men's marathon gold at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday, but Flomena Daniel spearheaded a Kenyan one-two in the women's race.

Shelley, who finished 16th in the London Olympics, clocked a personal best of 2hr 11min 15sec on the largely flat course around the streets of Glasgow, to better his silver-medal showing in Delhi four years ago.

Kenya's Stephen Chemlany, a pacemaker for compatriot Patrick Makau's world record run in the Berlin marathon last year when he went on to finish fourth in a personal best of 2:06.24, claimed silver in 2:11.58.

Uganda's Abraham Kiplimo took bronze at 1:08.

"I've got to pinch myself, it is very exciting. To come back and actually win is indescribable," said Shelley. "Now I have had a bit more experience, to come away with my first win is indescribable."

Shortly afterwards, Daniel broke clear late on from teammate Kilel to record a convincing Kenyan double in the women's race.

This year's Paris marathon winner timed 2hr 26min 45sec, with Kilel claiming silver at 25sec.

Australian Jess Trengrove produced a strong last third to reel in Namibia's Helalia Johannes for bronze, at 3:27.

The marathons kicked off the Games athletics programme in the city streets with the action switching later in the day to Hampden Park where the final in the men's 5000m was on the schedule, along with heats in both the men and women's 100m.

In the absence of Mo Farah, Uganda's Moses Kipsiro has a better chance to defend his title in the 5000m, but will be up against a strong Kenyan duo in world bronze medallist Isiah Kiplangat Koech and Caleb Ndiku, the recently-crowned world 3000m indoor champion.

In the pool world champion Cate Campbell looked in supreme form as she cruised into the semi-finals of the women's 100m freestyle.

The Australian exacted a little revenge on Fran Halsall after being beaten to gold in the 50m freestyle by the Englishwoman on Saturday by qualifying fastest in a time of 53:20sec.

"It was a pretty fast heat swim, but I know from experience that if you go too slowly you start to shut down the systems.

"I always get more nervous before the 50m. It is not my bread and butter anymore. I have moved to the main course in the 100m."

Halsall was second fastest as she attempted to save her energy ahead of going for a second gold in the 50m butterfly later on Sunday.

The highlight of Sunday evening's session, though, will be the battle for the men's 100m freestyle gold between Australian duo James Magnussen and Cameron McEvoy.

Just as in Saturday's men's 100m breaststroke, 19-year-old Englishman Adam Peaty beat South African world record holder Cameron van der Burgh into second place in qualifying fastest for the 50m breaststroke semi-finals.

Peaty set another new Commonwealth Games record in the process of 27:00 sec in the process with Scotland's Ross Murdoch qualifying third fastest.

"It was good. I didn't think I would have to swim that fast this morning," said Peaty.

The quarter-finals of the rugby sevens at Ibrox Park saw wins for New Zealand over Kenya (19-7), Australia over Wales (21-19), Samoa over England (15-14) and South Africa over Scotland (35-12).

- England top in shooting -

The first two shooting golds of the day at Carnoustie on Scotland's east coast both went to England.

Charlotte Kerwood took the women's double trap ahead of Shreyasi Singh of India and Rachel Parish of England, while Steven Scott was first in the men's double trap in front of countryman Matthew French and Asab Mohd of India.

Singapore stormed to victory in the women's team table-tennis competition, while South Africa won gold in the women's lawn bowls four defeating Malaysia in the final.

On the last day of track cycling, Australia's Anna Meares gets one more chance at Games history in the sprint.

Meares captured her fifth gold and seventh overall medal in the 500m time trial on day one.

One more gold makes her the highest winning track cyclist in Games history, while another medal of any colour ties her with Gary Anderson of New Zealand for the most Games track cycling medals.

The male sprinters get another chance at glory when they contest the keirin event while Australia look for a fifth successive gold in the women's 25km points race.

There are two more medal events on the fourth day of weightlifting, Indian duo Vandna Gupta and Ravi Kumar Katulu going for glory in the women's 63kg and men's 77kg categories respectively.

Katulu claimed 69kg gold in Delhi in 2010 and his step-up in weight sees him pitched against against promising young teammate Satish Kumar Sivalingam.