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Johnboy Smith, Jessica Stenson win Commonwealth Games marathon golds

Jessica Stenson and England's Johnboy Smith win gold medals in the marathon and wheelchair marathon events at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Australia's Jessica Stenson ended her bronze medal hoodoo to take the Commonwealth title in the women's marathon at the 2022 Games in Birmingham.

The 34-year-old had to settle for third place at the 2014 Games in Glasgow before also taking the bronze medal at her home Games on the Gold Coast four years ago.

However, Stenson blew the competition out of the water to win with a time of 2:27:31 this time around, and Wales' Clara Evans performed the best from home nation athletes in ninth.

In a comical turn of events in the men's race, Uganda's Victor Kiplangat briefly went down the wrong road at one stage, but he eventually got back on the right track to take the gold with a time of 2:10:55.

Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania claimed the silver medal, crossing the line with 2:12:29 on the clock, while Michael Mugo Githae of Kenya (2:13:16) placed fourth. England's Jonathan Mellor (2:15:31) ended up in sixth.

Earlier in the day, England's Johnboy Smith let emotion take over after winning the gold medal in the men's T53/54 wheelchair marathon, during which there was heartbreak for David Weir.

Weir - who was at the head of the pack with 10km left to go - saw his hopes of glory dashed by a puncture to his back left wheel, as Smith crossed the line with a time of 1:41:15.

Scotland's Sean Frame (1:45:49) clinched the silver medal, with Smith's compatriot Simon Lawson (1:45:59) taking the bronze; Weir eventually finished in seventh with 2:05:08.

"It's bittersweet for me. Dave got a flat, he had me. By mile six he dropped me. I won, but the better man didn't win today," Smith told BBC Sport after taking gold.

"I take my hat off to Dave, Dave had me. He deserves gold, I should have got silver, but look, these things happen. Your majesty the Queen, if you're watching, give David Weir a knighthood, make him Sir David Weir, that man deserves it."

There was one more medal for England in the women's wheelchair marathon, as Eden Rainbow-Cooper took silver, but third-placed Shelly Oxley-Woods did not collect a bronze medal.

Just four competitors started the women's wheelchair marathon race, meaning that only the top two were awarded medals, as Australia's Christine Dawes finished fourth.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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