Athletics: Morgan leaps to title but Jackson has to settle for silver

Darren Morgan, whose place as England's leading long jump talent was usurped earlier this season when Chris Tomlinson broke Lynn Davies' 34-year-old British record, reimposed himself here last night by taking the Commonwealth title.

It was a surprise ­ but not as great as the failure of Wales's Colin Jackson to secure a third 110 metres hurdles Commonwealth title after an early argument with a hurdle.

Four years ago Morgan was the jumper everyone expected to surpass Davies' record after he had broken through to finish third at the European Cup in St Petersburg and jumped a best of 8.11m to win the AAA title. But he then underwent a long period of frustration because of back problems and complained of insufficient financial support.

Even so, he remained bullish about his prospects after Tomlinson's landmark effort of 8.27m this April. "I'll be British No 1 again soon," he said. "No doubt about that."

Last night the 24-year-old Birchfield Harrier, who required an injection in an injured foot to compete, turned words into action to become England's sixth track and field winner of the Games.

When he went into the lead with a second round effort of 8.02m, just 9cm short of his personal best, all seemed set for a domestic battle such as we saw between Phillips Idowu and Jonathan Edwards in Sunday night's triple jump. But Tomlinson, taking off well behind the board far too often, could not find a response, finally finishing in sixth place with a best of 7.79.

Silver went to Botswana's Gable Garenamotse, and Kareem Street-Thompson of the Cayman Islands took bronze with 7.89, just one centimetre ahead of Scotland's Darren Ritchie.

"Chris has inspired me because he's been jumping the distances I should have done many years ago and hopefully I will do in the future," Morgan added.

Jackson's plans to collect a third Commonwealth title in what will be his final outdoor season went awry as he was beaten to the 110m hurdles gold by Shaun Bownes. The South African recorded 13.35 seconds, 0.04sec ahead of the straining Welshman, whose hopes of victory had effectively vanished when he hit the opening barrier after making an uncharacteristically sluggish start.

"I absolutely slammed the first hurdle. I was so close to it. It cost me the whole thing. From then on I was just chasing."

The 35-year-old world record holder was also disturbed by the spectacular first hurdle fall England's Damien Greaves took in the lane alongside him. "His hand came across me and shocked me a little bit, but it wasn't a major factor," he said.

Jackson has coped with greater disappointments than this, having failed to earn the Olympic gold his talent has deserved in an international career which began 17 years ago. Now he will focus on earning his fourth European title.

Susan Jones and Kelly Newman added silver and bronze to England's tally on the night in the high jump and discus, respectively. Newman's achievement in taking third place as New Zealand's Beatrice Faumuina retained her title earned her England's first women's major championship discus medal since 1986.

Jones, a member of the local Trafford Park club, emerged to prominence by winning the European Cup last year, and she did as well as she could have reasonably expected given the presence of South Africa's reigning world champion Hestrie Cloete, whose effort of 1.96m, 6cm more than the English woman managed, was a Games record. It was the third South African gold of the night, with Okkert Brits winning the pole vault.

Darren Campbell returned yesterday to the track where his own emotions had overflowed after winning 200m bronze the previous night and anchored England into today's 4x100m relay final.

After taking his bronze in Monday's 200m, he spoke about the long-standing injury problems which had affected his personal life to the point where he had contemplate suicide six months ago by driving his car into a wall. Life now feels sweeter following his reunion six weeks ago with Claire, mother of his three-year-old son Aaryn.