PRIDE of Scotland Libby Clegg has predicted the Commonwealth Games will give para-sport in this country a massive lift.

Clegg, who is registered blind, won the first track and field gold medal for Scotland in 20 YEARS at Hampden last night.

The emotional 24-year-old finished in first place in the women's 100m T11/12 - to the delight of a huge home support in the stadium.

It was the first time since Yvonne Murray won the 10,000m in Victoria way back in 1994 that a Scots runner has scooped gold. This is the first year that disabled athletes have had their events integrated into the full Commonwealth Games programme.

And Clegg, who was guided by Mikail Huggins, believes that Glasgow 2014 can have a massive impact on the popularity of para-sports. She said: "The Commonwealth Games are amazing for para-sport. It has been fantastic. We have had the most para-sports that we have ever had in the games.

"And it is an integrated programme as well. We are not just competing before or after. It is amazing to be a part of the main competition.

"The spectators haven't really cared that it is a disability sport. It is just another race to them. I think that shows that para-sport has made leaps and bounds in recent years.

"I also hope that the Commonwealth Games will have a positive effect on the number of young people taking part in para-sports in the future."

Clegg, a former European and World Championship gold medal winner, rated winning Commonwealth Games gold as the greatest achievement of her career.

The England-based athlete beat Maria Elisa Muchavo of Mozambique into second spot by over a second after crossing the finishing line in 12.2 seconds.

And she claimed the backing of her compatriots in the 40,0000-strong crowd in Glasgow had helped her to produce such an impressive display.

She said: "It feels absolutely incredible. It was an absolutely fantastic experience and I loved every second of it.

"I was completely aware of the crowd. The support they gave me was amazing and was really uplifting. It definitely helped my performance.

"I felt a little bit of pressure, but nothing too major. I was a little bit nervous this morning before my heat, but when my name was announced the crowd started cheering for me and it felt really good.

"I didn't realise that it is the first track and field gold medal that Scotland have won in the Commonwealth Games since 1994. That makes it even more special.

"It definitely tops anything else that I have achieved in my career. It is totally different to the Paralympics or the World Championships or anything."

Clegg added: "The amount of support we have received from the crowd has been absolutely incredible. I don't know how to explain what it means to us.

"On my lap of honour, I met two different people from school, my boyfriend, my boyfriend's uncle who comes to every race, my mum and my dad and my sponsors. It was insane."

Huggins was delighted to receive a medal alongside Clegg on the winner's podium and afterwards paid tribute to her stunning display in front of the Scottish fans.

He said: "Libby seems to come out and produce the goods when it matters. To come out and perform like that in front of her home crowd just shows that she is elite."

Clegg, who is looking to win gold at the Paralympics in Brazil in 2016, has vowed not to let-up in the weeks ahead and improve upon her times further.

She said: "I was happy with my performance and my time. I have the European Championships in a couple of weeks so I have to continue training. Hopefully my times will get better."