COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Devonish, Malcolm and Baptiste looking strong

From James Toney and Chris Broadbent, Sportsbeat, in Delhi

MARLON Devonish believes he's running into form at exactly the right time as he progressed with ease through the early rounds of the 200m at the Commonwealth Games.

Devonish has three Commonwealth medals in his collection, including two relay golds. 

But it's upgrading the 200m silver he won in Manchester eight years ago, that remains his number one priority in Delhi.

"In the heats I felt really sluggish because I've not been sleeping so well," he said, after clocking a second round 20.90 secs.

"But the second round was so much better and I'm happy with that. The plan was to get ahead and stay ahead and just qualify comfortably.

"There is no added pressure on me. The sense of expectation that everyone at home has about what I can do here, I have as well."

Leon Baptiste was the fastest British qualifier winning his heat in 20.68 secs while Wales' Christian Malcolm also won his second round race, but came home in 20.93 secs.

Joice Maduaka shows no signs of slowing down - even at 37 - as she led the British qualifiers through the first round of the women's 200m.

Maduaka won her heat in 23.75 seconds while English team-mate Laura Turner and Abi Oyepitan, plus Scotland's Lee McConnell, also progressed.

"It was more about blowing away the cobwebs because I haven't raced in such a long time," said Maduaka, after her first outing since last month's Great North Games. 

"Everybody in my apartment has already finished competing and I've been sitting there begging them to let me get some sleep, so it's nice just to be out here."

Birthday girl McConnell - more at home over one lap - was also happy to advance, although her time was the slowest of five outings over 200m this season.

"It's so different to what I normally do but it was nice to finish at 200m and not have to keep going," she said.

"I am going to have to get the legs turning a bit quicker if I am going to run any quicker though." 

Meanwhile, England's Conrad Williams was a disappointing sixth in the 400m final, his 45.88 secs time well outside his best. Kenya's Mark Muttai won in 45.44 secs, followed by Australia's Sean Wroe and Ramon Miller, of the Bahamas.

 

Kenya were also always likely to dominate the women’s 3000m steeplechase and duly swept the podium with Milcah Cheywa taking gold ahead of team-mates Mercy Njoroge and Gladys Kipkemoi.

In a small field of just nine athletes, England’s Helen Clitheroe, competing at her fourth Games, was the best of the rest, finishing fourth in 9.56.37.