South Africa's Caster Semenya has taken almost four seconds off the 1500m Commonwealth Games record on her way to the gold medal at Carrara Stadium this evening.
The two-time Olympic 800m champion completed the first leg of a possible double on the Gold Coast with victory in her less-favoured event, and will now be an even bigger favourite to triumph in the 800m on Friday night.
Semenya produced a personal-best time of 4:00.71 to shatter the previous best mark at the Commonwealth Games, finishing 2.38s ahead of silver medallist Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya.
Semenya's margin of victory was all the more remarkable considering each of the top six in the race would have broken the previous Games record.
Five women broke their personal best in the high-quality field, including Wales's Melissa Courtney, who produced a stunning performance to win the bronze medal ahead of Australian duo Linden Hall and Georgia Griffith.
Scotland's Eilish McColgan and Stephanie Twell finished sixth and seventh respectively, while the English trio of Sarah McDonald, Katie Snowden and Jessica Judd crossed the line in eighth, 11th and 14th respectively.
Barney Corkhill
