Sotherton claims the heptathlon gold
Wednesday, 22 March 2006 10:21Kelly Sotherton justified her position as overwhelming favourite by claiming heptathlon gold in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne today.
Sotherton saw her commanding lead after five events almost cut in half following another poor javelin display, but fourth in the final event, the 800 metres, was easily good enough to seal victory.
England team-mate Jessica Ennis, 20, was pipped to the silver medal by Australian Kylie Wheeler after taking a one-point lead into the 800m. Sotherton finished with 6,396 points, Wheeler on 6,298 and Ennis on 6,269.
Sotherton, who competed with her left leg heavily strapped, told BBC1: "I've got problems galore today. I've had cramp and it was a bit tentative. The guys want me to do a lap of honour but I can't. I can't move."
Elsewhere on the track, world champion Dorcus Inzikuru of Uganda won the women's 3000 metres steeplechase title to give her country their first ever gold at the championships.
The 24-year-old timed 9 minutes 19.51 seconds to see off Australia's Melissa Rollison while another Australian, Donna MacFarlane, took the bronze.
Inzikuru, who was head and shoulders above the rest of the competition in an event only introduced to the world championships last year, finally got the better of Rollison down the back stretch on the final lap.
In the boxing ring, Northern Ireland boxer Ryan Lindberg narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the flyweight division after losing 36-27 to England's Don Broadhurst.
The 22-year-old Broadhurst has secured a flyweight semi-final place - and at the very least a bronze medal. Broadhurst's England team-mates James DeGale and Stephen Smith are also guaranteed Commonwealth medals and will be joined in Thursday's semi-finals by Welshman Darren Edwards.
Also in the middleweight division, Northern Ireland's Eamonn O'Kane lost 28-19 to Samoa's Warren Fuavailili.
