Commonwealth Games: Heartbreak as Hoare denies Cheruiyot 1500m gold

Kenya's bid to retain the men's 1500m Commonwealth Games title has suffered a blow as Olympic silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot finished second in the final.

Australia's Oliver Hoare broke the Kenyan hearts after running away with the gold medal with recently crowned world champion Jake Wightman bagging bronze.

African champion Abel Kipsang who was the pre-race favourite finished fourth after clocking a season best of 3:30.82.

Cheruiyot, who settled for silver in Gold Coast four years ago behind former world champion Elijah Manangoi timed a season best of 3:20.21 but was not enough to beat Hoae who not only won the race but broke the games record.

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The Australian crossed the line in a new personal best of 3:30.12 while Wightman got bronze for the second edition running as he settled for a third place finish four years ago.

Cheruiyot who lost the world title to Wightman last month in Oregon looked set to deliver gold but he ran short of gas in the closing stages of the race, allowing Hoare to take the top honours.

The former world silver medalist will however be glad to have finished inside the top three after a disappointing sixth place finish in Oregon.

The loss in Birmingham means that Kenya has now surrendered the World and Commonwealth titles over the distance.