Montsho out to conquer Jamaicans over 400m at Commonwealth Games

Track and field at the Commonwealth Games promises to be even more exciting this evening with seven more golds up for grabs. There is English interest aplenty in Glasgow, with medal hopes in the Men’s 110m Hurdles and Hammer, not forgetting the Women’s 1500m.

A gruelling two-day Decathlon event also comes to a close, plus the Women’s Triple Jump, where Kimberly Williams (Jamaica) is heavily odds-on at 1/12, and 10000m, with Florence Kiplagat (Kenya) at 1/4 for gold. The hottest ticket in town will how the leading ladies do over one lap of the track.

Women’s 400m
This should be a three-way dance between Jamaican couple Novlene Williams-Mills (13/8), the fastest in making the final with a time of 50.13 seconds, and Stephenie Ann McPherson (15/8), and Botswana’s Amantle Montsho. The latter gave nothing away in her semi, so looks a hugely tempting 7/4 to add to world gold from Daegu three years ago here.

Men’s 110m Hurdles
England’s Will Sharman and Andrew Riley of Jamaica are 6/4 joint-favourites to take gold over the sprint hurdles, after posting two of the three fastest times in the heats. Defending Commonwealth champion Andy Turner crashed out in the heats, while Caribban trio Hansle Parchment (Jamaica), Durell Busby and Wayne Davis (both Trinidad and Tobago) pulled out.

Barbados pair Shane Braithwaite (9/2) and Ryan Brathwaite (6/1), punters note the subtle difference in spelling which means they are no relation, are also in the mix. England also have Lawrence Clarke competing in this final, but he is a 66/1 shot to cause a monumental upset.

Men’s Hammer
Canada’s James Steacy starts as the 11/10 favourite to take gold, and go one better than the Melbourne Games of eight years ago. At his best, the Home Nations will not get close to him, but Scotland’s Mark Dry (9/1) and English pair Nick Miller (2/1) and Alex Smith (7/2) threw further in qualifying for this final. Expect the medals to be between these four.

Women’s 1500m
Kenya’s contingent looks likely to take gold over this middle distance. Hellen Obiri, world bronze medallist in Moscow last year, is the 1/2 favourite ahead of Faiyh Kibiegon (5/2). Scotland’s Laura Muir and Laura Weightman, one of three English women and their best hope in this final, are equal 12/1 chances to upset the African pair.