Barbadian Obadele Thompson, who has to his credit the fastest ever 100m, legal or otherwise in 9.69s, was left standing at the block. His reaction time, the slowest of the eight finalists, was double of what Boldon needed to get off the blocks. Thompson, second to Boldon at the World Cup, had a reaction time of 0.232 seconds to the Trinidadian's 0.116 seconds.

While Boldon's charge on Bailey's record becoming stronger every day, Fredericks who conceded ``the best man won today'' now has a Commonwealth silver to go with Olympic and World championship silver medals at both 100m and200m.

Coming behind the medallists was Matt Shrivington, who dreams of becoming the first white sprinter to crack 10 seconds, is now closer than ever. Following a good start, he came on strongly on the first 50, before Fredericks and Thompson went past him. Shrivington timed a personal best 10.03s.

Results

Finals: men's 100m: 1 Ato Boldon (Trinidad & Tobago) 9.88s (GR), 2 Frank Fredericks (Namibia) 9.96, 3 Obadele Thompson (Barbados) 10.00.

3000 metres steeplechase: 1 John Kosgei (Kenya) 8:15.34s, 2 Bernard Barmasai (Kenya) 8:15.37, 3 Kikpurui Misoi (Kenya) 8:18.24.

20 km walk: 1 Nicolas A'Hern (Aus) 1h 24 minutes 59 seconds, 2 Arturo Huerta (Canada) 1:25.49, 3 Nathan Deakes (Aus) 1:26.06.

Discus: 1 Robert Weir (Eng) 64.42m (GR), 2 Frantz Kruger (SA) 63.93m, 3 Jason Tunks (Can) 62.22m

Women: 100m: 1 Chandra Sturrup (Bahamas) 11.06s, 2 Philomena Mensah (Can) 11.19, 3 Tania Van-Heer (Aus) 11.29.

5000m: 1 Kate Anderson (Aus) 15:52.74, 2 Andrea Whitcombe(Eng) 15:56.85, 3 Samukeliso Moyo (Zim) 15:57.57.

Heptathlon: 1 Denise Lewis (Eng) 6,513 pts, 2 Jane Jamieson (Austria) 6,354, 3 Joanne Henry (NZL) 6,096.