Athletics: McKee gets jump on field for a bronze

Angela McKee came from virtually nowhere to snatch bronze in the high jump last night.

One of six jumpers to clear 1.83m but then go no further, McKee and Jamaican Karen Beautle took third on a countback with the gold going to South Africa's Anika Smith also on a countback from Julie Crane from Wales.

Jason Stewart found the three-pronged Kenyan attack just too much in last night's 800m final but still held his form well to claim a creditable fifth place.

It is the best effort over the distance by a New Zealander since John Walker ran the same final at the Christchurch Commonwealth Games in 1974.

Seen by many as a surprise qualifier, Stewart was far from disgraced as he mixed it with six runners who boasted faster personal bests than his 1m 46.19s.

Starting from the seventh lane, Stewart crossed to the pole in fifth place and held his place through 400m as Kenyan John Letei led the field through 53.67s.

Down the back straight as the pace picked up, Stewart, the seventh fastest qualifier, tagged on to the breakaway bunch of five and held that position to the finish after a brief rally in the straight.

Kenyan Alex Kipchirchir edged to the lead and went to the line more than a second clear of Canadian Achraf Tadili in a winning 1m 45.88s..

Litei faded to third ahead of Sherridan Kirk (Trinidad and Tabago) with Stewart across in 1m 47,72s.

"Fifth is not a medal and that's what I came here for," said Stewart. "My first goal was to make the final and then put myself in a position to finish in the top three. I did that but fifth is not good enough.

"They are not schoolkids out there but I don't think I disgraced New Zealand."

As a strength runner, Stewart would have preferred a faster opening lap.

James Dolphin continued his good run to reach the 200m final but found the pace too hot and faded to finish eighth in a time of 20.72s.

Earlier, Melina Hamilton needed only two attempts to win through to the pole vault final. She cleared 3.80m at her first attempt and 4m, also with her first attempt, to go through as one of the top 12 to qualify for tomorrow's final.