TAJAY Gayle created history on Wednesday when he won Jamaica’s first-ever men’s long jump gold medal at the Commonwealth Games (CWG).

Shot putter Lloydricia Cameron claimed a bronze medal at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, as Jamaica’s medal tally went up to four — inclusive of three gold and a bronze — at the 23rd edition of the Games.

Romaine Beckford and Demario Prince had opened Jamaica’s medal account on Monday with gold medals in the men’s high jump and 110m hurdles, respectively.

Expectations are high for more medals on Thursday with finals in the women’s triple jump and discus throw competitions.

After placing fourth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, Gayle jumped 8.15m (1.5m/s) to become the first Jamaican man to win a long jump competition. He is the first Jamaican man to win a medal at the Games since Wesley Clayton won back-to-back bronze in 1962 and 1966.

India’s Sreeshankar took consecutive silver medals after a best mark of 8.09m (1.3m/s), just ahead of Stephen Mackenzie of Scotland who was third with 8.08m (0.9m/s). Jamaican Jordan Turner was ninth with 7.65m (0.1m/s).

Cameron, who won her first national championships title this year, improved on her fourth-place finish from four years ago in Birmingham, England, taking the bronze with a best of 17.87m in the final round to eclipse Manpreet Kaur of India.

(From left) Jamaica’s Alana Reid, Canada’s Frederique Chiasson, Malawi’s Asimenye Simwaka, Bahamas’s Anthonique Strachan and Barbados’ Kelia Bentham compete in the women’s 200m heat 6 at the Scotstoun Stadium during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on Wednesday.

Canada’s two-time World Athletics Indoor champion Sarah Mitton defended her title with an effort of 19.88m. Nigeria’s 19-year-old Jessica Oji took the silver medal with 17.87m, getting the edge over Cameron with a better second throw.

National champion Ackelia Smith and NCAA winner Shantae Foreman are set to take on world leader and Olympic champion Thea Lafond of Dominica in the women’s triple jump on Thursday.

Jamaica’s Samantha Hall is the Commonwealth leader in the women’s discus throw and will start as pre-championships favourite going into the final.

There will also be qualifying in the 100m hurdles in which Kerrica Hill and Megan Simmonds are set to compete. In the men’s triple jump Jordan Scott, who is ranked number one, is also down to feature.

Kelly Ann Beckford qualified for the final of the women’s 800m after placing third in her semi-finals in 1:59.96, beaten to the finish line by Lilian Odira (1:59.39) of Kenya and Shafiqua Maloney (1:59.81) of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Adelle Tracey was fourth in her heat in 2:01.54 for 10th overall.

Other Jamaicans, including 200m and women’s 400m hurdles runners, progressed past the first round of their respective events on Wednesday.

National champion Sanique Walker and Shiann Salmon, the latter who was second four years ago in Birmingham, topped the qualifying in the women’s 400m hurdles.

(From left) Third-placed Jamaica’s Lloydricia Cameron, first-placed Canada’s Sarah Mitton and second-placed Nigeria’s Jessica Oji celebrate after competing in the women’s shot put final at the Scotstoun Stadium during the athletics event of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on Wednesday.

Walker won her heat in 54.83 seconds and Salmon topped hers in 55.30 to booked places in Friday’s final.

National champion Assinie Wilson was second in his first round heat in the men’s 400m hurdles in 49.19.

Lavanya Williams and Alana Reid were also the fastest in the women’s 200m first round.

Williams ran 22.91 (0.8m/s) to win heat five and national champion Reid clocked 22.95 (1.7m/s) to claim heat six as they made safe passage through to Thursday’s semi-finals.

All three Jamaican men also advanced in the 200m.

Christopher Taylor was second in his heat in 20.36 (1.6m/s), the same time given to Ghana’s Joseph Paul Amoah, who was declared the winner.

Roshawn Clarke won his heat in 20.56 (1/0m/s) and Jevaughn Powell recorded a wind-aided 20.28 (2.6m/s) to top his heat.

Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle competes in the men’s long jump final at the Scotstoun Stadium during day six of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on Wednesday. (Photos: AFP)