Commonwealth Games, Day One Prelims: Erika Fairweather and Lani Pallister Set to Duel for 400 Freestyle Title
The first of this summer’s three major international competitions got underway this morning, as the Commonwealth Games kicked off six days of action with Friday morning preliminaries from the Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow. The meet will feature prelims, semifinals and finals in the 50-meter and 100-meter events, while all disciplines 200 meters and up will use a prelims-finals setup.
The Commonwealth Games are held every four years, the last edition taking place in 2022 in Birmingham, England. Australia is heavily favored to top the medals standing, while Great Britain is separated into the individual nations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Island. More, many of the athletes at the Commonwealth Games will see additional international racing later this summer, either at the European Championships in Paris or the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California.
Here is a recap of the Day One prelims:
Women’s 400 Freestyle
New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather and Australian Lani Pallister are tw0 of the seven women in history to go under four minutes in the 400 freestyle, and they led qualifying in the event behind easy swims. Fairweather booked Lane Four for the final, going 4:06.42, while Pallister advanced as the No. 2 seed with a time of 4:06.88. While Fairweather owns a best of 3:59.44, Pallister has been as quick as 3:58.87.
Aussies Jenna Forrester (4:07.34) and Amelia Weber (4:08.12) were third and fourth, with New Zealand’s Caitlin Deans clocking 4:10.16 for fifth. Ella Jansen was the top Canadian, qualifying sixth in 4:10.55.
Men’s 200 Individual Medley
A tightly bunched field will battle for the crown in the men’s 200 medley, including defending champion Duncan Scott of Scotland. Scott cruised to a mark of 1:58.81 for the fifth seed in the final, which will be headed by Australian Will Petric (1:58.70). Just .11 separated the top five competitors, with the second-fastest times shared by the English pair of Tom Dean and Max Litchfield at 1:58.75. In fourth was New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt with a swim of 1:58.79.
Women’s Para 100 Freestyle (s13)
The prelim heat was about jockeying for lane position in the final, as all eight entries moved to the evening session. Earning Lane Four was Australia’s Jenna Jones, behind a time of 1:04.67. She was joined under 1:05 by Wales’ Ela Letton-Jones (1:04.73).
Men’s Para 100 Freestyle (s13)
A five-time medalist at the Paralympic Games, Scotland’s Stephen Clegg notched the fastest time of the morning in his opening swim of the Commonwealth Games. Clegg checked in with a time of 56.57 for the S13 category of the 100 freestyle, and was followed in second by South African Nathan Hendricks (56.66).
Women’s 200 Backstroke
The big news for the women’s 200 backstroke arrived last week, when Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown announced she was withdrawing from the meet due to a bout with glandular fever. McKeown’s absence has opened the door to the top step of the podium and Australian Hannah Fredericks secured the top seed for the final, thanks to a time of 2:09.81.
Scotland’s Holly McGill was the only other athlete to go sub-2:10, an effort of 2:09.98 placing her in Lane Five for the night session. Aussie Jenna Forrester advanced to her second final by placing third in 2:10.03. Forrester is also slated to contest the final of the 400 freestyle.
Men’s 50 Backstroke
South Africa’s Pieter Coetze made a statement in his first swim of the meet, as he covered his lap of backstroke in 24.45, which was well ahead of the 24.78 of countryman Ruard Van Renen. Also cracking the 25-second barrier during prelims was England’s Oliver Morgan, as he went 24.91.
Women’s 50 Butterfly
Australia’s Alex Perkins put together a strong effort in the 50 butterfly, touching the wall in 25.55. Joining Perkins in sub-26 territory was South Africa’s Erin Gallagher, who earned a silver medal in the event at the 2022 edition of the Commonwealth Games. Gallagher went 25.70, and was followed in the No. 3 position by countrywoman Jessica Thompson (26.24).
Men’s 100 Breaststroke
The English duo of Adam Ramsay-Peaty and Filip Nowacki went under the minute barrier in the 100 breaststroke, easily moving them into the semifinals. Ramsay-Peaty was the gold medalist in this event at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games, and he got his latest appearance underway with a time of 59.46.
Qualifying third was Nowacki, the rising star and heir apparent to Ramsay-Peaty. Nowacki clocked a swim of 59.93, with Sam Williamson of Australia in between the England swimmers in 59.56.
Women’s Para 200 Individual Medley (S10)
Faye Rogers of Scotland was more than a second clear of the field, as she put down a time of 2:32.00 while showcasing her talent across all four strokes. The second-fastest swim of the morning was recorded by Canada’s Katie Cosgriffe, who went 2:35.05.
Men’s Para 200 100 Butterfly (S10)
Canada’s Fernando Lu led three men under the minute mark in the 100 butterfly (S10), with his performance of 58.23 securing the top seed for the final. Lu was followed by the Aussie tandem of Col Pearse (58.68) and Alex Saffy (59.49).
Women’s 400 Freestyle Relay
There will be plenty of lineup changes for the final, but Australia locked down the top seed in the 400 freestyle relay, a time of 3:37.95 placing it nearly three seconds ahead of England (3:40.92). Australia’s top effort from the morning was provided by Hannah Casey, who led off in 53.73.
Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay
Australia and England were well in front of the competition in the prelims of the 400 freestyle. The Aussies logged the fastest time, going 3:14.53, but England was right behind in 3:14.68. Ed Sommerville led off for Australia in 48.54 while England’s top swim of the morning came from Tom Dean, who anchored in 47.99.