Thompson Gold in Leaps and Bounds

Falling just three centimetres short of her seven metre target, Australian long jumper Bronwyn Thompson still had plenty to spare in her gold medal performance at the MCG.

Thompson's second round jump of 6.97 metres set a new games record and put the rest of the field out of reach.

The win marked a gutsy comeback from injury and health concerns for the Queenslander who finished fourth in the same event in Athens.

Speaking after her triumph, the soon-to-be bride thanked the capacity crowd.

“I don't think I could do anything but win a medal in such an electric atmosphere,” a clearly delighted Thompson said.

But far from it being the Thompson-solo show, team mate Kerrie Taurima sealed her place on the dais as she won silver with a jump of 6.57 ahead of the Seychelles' Celine Laporte.

Thompson has had several injury concerns including a knee operation which left her unable to compete for over 12 months. Her performance in Sydney 2000 was hampered by the diagnosis of a tumour which had wrapped itself around tendons in her takeoff foot. The tumour was removed after the Olympics and, much to her relief, found to be benign.

In a stellar night in the track and field for the Aussies, the crisp clapping around the MCG that greeted each step of Thompson's run up left many in the crowd with goosebumps.

And while the sandpit proved a popular place for Australia to boost its medal tally, the men's relay team set themselves up for a thrilling finish on the last night of competition.

Australia's 4 x 100 relay team qualified for the final as they finished second to a Jamaican team that boasted the world's fastest man, Asafa Powell, running the final leg.

The Australian team finished just five hundredths of a second behind the highly fancied Carribean nation leaving the last night of the games with some wonderful races.

The concept of medal clean sweeps has been a familiar one for Australian fans at these games and Kenya claimed another as they sealed the three medal spots in the men's 3000 metre steeplechase final.

Race favorite Ezekiel Kemboi Yano won the gold medal in a time of 8.18.17 ahead of Wesley Kiprotich Koech and Reuben Kosgei Seroney.

Scotland's Kevin Sheppard was unable to finish the steeplechase after he landed arkwardly in the water section.

The Kenyans' sheer stamina came into play again as Janeth Jepkosgei won the women's 800 metre final before Isabella Ochichi and Lucy Wangui Kabuu won gold and bronze in the women's 5000 metre final.

Long distance hopeful Craig Mottram booked his place in Saturday's men's 1500 metre final as he qualified fastest in his heat with a time of 3.38.02. Mottram will be joined in the final by Deakin University athlete Mark Fountain.

In the final event of the night Australia qualified fastest from the second heat as the 4 x 400 metre team of Christopher Troode, Sean Wroe, Mark Omrod and Clinton Hill bid for medals in Saturday's final.

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