Commonwealth Games, Day Five Semifinals: Pieter Coetze Rips Games Record in 100 Backstroke
The fifth day of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will mark the last session including semifinals, with action scheduled in the women’s 50 freestyle, men’s 50 butterfly and men’s 100 backstroke. In the 50 freestyle, Australian Meg Harris will try to take the next step in her quest for a sprint double. Harris won the 100 freestyle earlier in the meet, leading an Australian sweep of the podium positions.
The headliner in the 100 backstroke will be South Africa’s Pieter Coetze, who has already captured titles in the 50 backstroke and 200 backstroke. Based on his performances at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Coetze could produce a sub-52 mark in the 100 backstroke when the event’s final rolls around on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the 50 butterfly features a tightly packed field of big names, including Canadian Josh Liendo and Aussie Kyle Chalmers.
Here is an event-by-event recap of the Day Five semifinals:
Women’s 50 Freestyle
Following an Australian sweep of the medals in the 100 freestyle, the Dolphins are looking good for podium dominance in the 50 freestyle. Reigning world champion and Olympic silver medalist Meg Harris easily claimed the top seed for the final, behind a clocking of 24.18. She was followed in the No. 2 and No. 3 positions by countrywomen Shayna Jack (24.42) and Alex Perkins (24.77).
Trying to keep Australia from a sweep will be South Africa’s Caitlin de Lange (24.82) and Jessica Thompson (24.92), along with Wales’ Theodora Taylor (24.97).
Men’s 50 Butterfly
A scorcher of a final in the 50 butterfly is set for the last day of the Commonwealth Games, after Australians Ben Armbruster and Kyle Chalmers delivered matching times of 22.82 in the semifinals. With the 50-meter strokes on the Olympic program for 2028 in Los Angeles, greater emphasis has been placed on the sprint events. Chasing Armbruster and Chalmers are Australia’s Cam McEvoy, the world-record holder in the 50 freestyle, and Canadian Josh Liendo. McEvoy and Liendo delivered respective semifinal times of 23.41 and 23.46.
Men’s 100 Backstroke
South Africa’s Pieter Coetze made a statement in the semifinals of the 100 backstroke, setting a Games record of 52.20 while moving within one win of a backstroke sweep. Already the champion in the 50 backstroke and 200 backstroke, Coetze qualified as the top seed for the final of the 100 distance by nearly a second, with England’s Oliver Morgan second in 53.09. South Africa’s Ruard van Renen notched the third-fastest time, an effort of 53.41.