By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
Jamaica's Elva Goulbourne competes in the final of the women's long jump at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England yesterday. - Ap Photo
MANCHESTER, England:
LONG JUMPER Elva Goulbourne produced an excellent 6.70 metres mark on her fourth effort in the pit to secure Jamaica's third gold medal at the XVII Commonwealth Games in Manchester yesterday.
Jamaica won two other medals on the track, lifting the island's tally at the Games to eight - two more than they won in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia four years ago. The other medal winners were Juliet Campbell with silver in the 200m and 400m hurdler Ian Weakley who collected a bronze.
Goulbourne, who trailed favourite Jade Johnson of England after the first three rounds of the long jump, got everything right for the golden leap and from then on she was not threatened.
Johnson, the only automatic qualifier the day before, was second with 6.58m while India's Bobby George was third with a final effort 6.49m.
The former Dinthill Technical High student, who is now ranked eighth in the world with a best of 6.82m, had only got up to 6.25m in qualifying and she knew she had to put out an extra effort for the top spot.
"I knew 6.50m could not win it, so I just had to go out there and do what my coach said. It feels pretty good. It was a great opportunity for me to be here - it's my first Commonwealth Games."
Juliet Campbell, 32, shrugged off a suspected stress fracture injury to collect silver in the women's 200m behind Bahamian Debbie Ferguson.
Ferguson, winner of the 100m at the weekend, completed a fine sprint double with a Games record 22.20. Campbell had a season best 22.54 and bronze medallist Lauren Hewitt of Australia clocked 22.69.
Beverly McDonald, who had qualified earlier in the day for the final, withdrew because of injury. Astia Walker was fifth in her semi-final in 23.31 and failed to advance.
Campbell, who repeated the silver medal she won in Kuala Lumpur, said she wanted to compete, even with an injury. She also lauded the gold medallist.
"Debbie Ferguson is in great shape and I am really happy for her as she's my friend."
The men's 200m final went as expected to Namibia's Frankie Fredericks in 20.06 from the English pair, Marlon Devonish, 20.19, a personal best , and Darren Campbell.
Hurdler Ian Weakley, who also confessed to an injury, said he was only 60 per cent but wanted to "do it" for his country.
England's Chris Rawlinson won gold in 49.14, Welshman Matthew Elias was second in 49.28 while Weakley clocked 49.69. Defending champion Dinsdale Morgan ended up fifth in 50.14.
High jumpers Germaine Mason and Craig Norman also finished out of the medals. Mason, a bronze medallist at the recent World Junior Championships in Kingston, was sixth with a best leap of 2.20m while Norman failed to get over 2.20m after clearing 2.15m at his first attempt.
Canada's Mark Boswell got gold with 2.28m, Kwaku Boateng, also of Canada, was second and England's Ben Challenger third.
Michelle Ballentine trailed in eighth in the women's 800m final won in a Games record 1:57.35 by Mozambique's Maria Mutola. Dinane Cummins of Canada, season-best 1:58.82, collected silver while Namibia's Agnes Samaria was third in a national record 1:59.15.
The top seven women all went under two minutes. Jamaica's Ballentine clocked 2:03.75. South Africa's Mbulaeni Mulaudzi was the men's 800m gold medallist in 1:46.32.
Jamaica will be hunting more track and field medals today in the women's 100m hurdles and men's 110m hurdles finals.
Lacena Golding-Clarke leads all qualifiers into the women's sprint hurdles final with a personal 12.74 from semi-final one. She also pulled Vonette Dixon to a career best 12.83. National record holder Brigitte Foster looked a bit tight in clocking 12.98 for second in semi-final two won by England's Diane Allahgreen in a personal best 12.92.
Two Jamaican men will run in the 110m hurdles final. Maurice Wignall was second in semi-final one in 13.68 behind Canada's Allen Charles, 13.60.
Semi-final two was won easily by South Africa's Shaun Bownes in 13.48 with Ricardo Melbourne (fourth in 13.99) advancing as one of the two fastest losers. Gregory Hines was fourth (14.19) in the third and final semi-final heat and was eliminated. Colin Jackson (Wales) stamped himself as the favourite for gold with a winning time of 13.34.
