Michelle Ahye won Trinidad and Tobago its first gold medal in the women’s 100 meters at the  Commonwealth Games in Australia on Monday, clocking 11.14 to beat home Jamaican pair Christania Williams (11.21) and Gayon Evans (11.22).

In a field weakened by the absence of Jamaica’s Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, who is contesting only the 200m and the 4x100m relay on the Gold Coast, Ahye was the pre-Games favourite, courtesy of her slick personal best of 10.82.

She was also the best-credentialed athlete in the final, having placed sixth at both the Rio Olympics and last year’s world championships in London.

The 25-year-old, heavily tattooed and sporting dyed red dreadlocks, was among the quickest out of the blocks and she began to clear away from the field at the 60-metre mark.

Evans produced a mighty challenge in the outside side to finish strongly, but she could not catch Ahye nor her teammate Williams.

Ahye, who was Trinidad and Tobago’s flagbearer  at the opening ceremony last week, pumped her right fist as she crossed the finish line before falling on the track on the top bend in celebration.