Commonwealth Games Day Three Finals: Lethal Leisel Misses 200 Breaststroke World Mark by .18; Lenton Turns the Table on Henry and Blasts 53.54

By Stephen J. Thomas

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 18. FRESH from her exciting progress in the sprint last evening, Leisel Jones produced yet another of her record stretching swims in the four-lap race, just missing her amazing 200 breaststroke world record of 2:20.54 set in this pool just six weeks ago by .18. It was a Games record.

The world champion was just .10 outside her WR split at the 50, dropped under by .25 at the 100 and held that by just .08 at the 150 but was unable to sustain the sensational pace of her swim at the Aussie Champs. Her time of 2:20.72 became the second fastest in history and Jones now owns four of the top five all-time with Amanda Beard holding the fourth fastest.

There were two impressive swims behind Jones tonight. Scotland’s Kirsty Balfour slashed her personal best coming into this meet to take silver in a British record 2:24.04 – sixth fastest all-time performer – and South African World Champs finalist Suzaan Van Biljon took the bronze in 2:25.39 to get within two seconds of the great Penny Heyns’ national record.

The clash between world record-holder Libby Lenton and the reigning Olympic, world and Commonwealth Games champion Jodie Henry in the 100 freestyle final lived up to expectations. Henry had looked the goods in the semifinal with a convincing win, coming over the top of Lenton with her trademark strong back half.

Tonight both Lenton and Henry were out faster, with Lenton in a blistering 25.77 and Henry at 26.11. However, this time it was Lenton who held her form and despite a surge by Henry under the flags, Lenton got to the wall first in a Games record 53.54 – the third fastest swim in history – with Henry using a long desperate glide to touch 53.78. Alice Mills took the bronze in 54.31, marking the third Aussie women’s trifecta of the Games.

South African world-record holder Roland Schoeman looked to be set to lower his world record close to the wall but a diabolical finishing glide saw him touch in 23.34 for the 50 butterfly, slower than his Games record of 23.14 in the semifinals and outside his global standard of 22.96. Young Auburn-based Aussie Matt Targett was next to the wall but was DQ’ed for moving on the blocks at the start. This left the way for the Aussie veterans Matt Welsh (23.63) and Michael Klim (PR 23.74) to take the minor medals.

In an exciting and closely contested men’s 100 breaststroke, England’s World Champs finalist Chris Cook took the gold in 1:00.98, just .04 outside his Games record set in the semifinals. His teammate James Gibson took the silver in 1:01.10 while Aussie record-holder Brenton Rickard who had led at the 50, grabbed the bronze in 1:01.17. The third Pom in the race, Darren Mew, just missed the medal clocking 1:01.23.

Aussie Sophie Edington swam a beautifully constructed race to set a Games record 1:00.93 to take the gold in the final of the women's 100 backstroke, beating teammate Giaan Rooney (1:01.42). Edington became the first Aussie woman to go under 1:01. England’s 200 freestyle bronze medalist Melanie Marshall took the bronze in 1:01.55. New Zealander Hannah McLean led at the turn but faded under the flags to finish fourth (1:01.71).

The Aussie women's team took the gold in the 800 frestyle relay in a new Games record of 7:56.68. Australia, the fastest qualifier, was only behind the English team after the first leg when Libby Lenton, feeling the effects of her tough program tonight, clocked a relatively slow 2:00.04. But the Aussies gradually took control of the race with Bronte Barratt, Kelly Stubbins and Linda Mackenzie building a convincing win. England finished with the silver in 8:01.23 and New Zealand just held out Canada by just .04 for the bronze in 8:02.20.

England (7:14.14) and Scotland (7:14.40) notched a British quinella in the men's 800 freestyle relay final tonight, ahead of an inexperienced Aussie team (7:14.99) and Canada (7:15.82). It was the first time since 1950 that the Aussies have been beaten in this event.

In semifinal action:

Men's 100 freestyle

England's great prospect Simon Burnett qualified fastest in 49.19 with World Champs silver medalist South African Roland Schoeman next in 49.34. He appeared to take the back half easy after turning in 23.23. Rising Aussie star Eamon Sullivan clocked 49.37 just .04 outside his best from the Aussie Trials and has the potential to step up in this field. The other South African, World Champs bronze medalist Ryk Neethling, who has not looked quite at his best here after missing a medal in the 200 free touched in 49.37. Canada's Brent Hayden will also be in the mix with a 49.92.

Women's 100 butterfly

World champ Jess Schipper was easily the fastest qualifier in a Games record 58.21, but Libby Lenton managed to clock 58.60 not long after winning the 100 freestyle. Terri Dunning of England was a little way back in 59.02 followed by Canada's Audrey Lacroix who lowered her national record twice in one day to 59.21. The other Aussie in the mix for the medals tomorrow night is Alice Mills who qualified seventh soon after taking the bronze in the 100 free behind Lenton.

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