Commonwealth Games, Day Six Prelims: James Guy Leads Field into 200 Freestyle Final; Duncan Scott Ousted
The last prelims session of the Commonwealth Games was all about setting up championship races for the final evening of action at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow. Undoubtedly, the most-anticipated event of the morning was the men’s 200-meter freestyle, which featured plenty of starpower. While Matt Richards was scheduled to race for Wales, Duncan Scott (Scotland) and James Guy (England) were also on the blocks. For Australia, Kai Taylor, Sam Short and Harrison Turner were the entries.
Wednesday morning also included prelims in the women’s 200 breaststroke, headline by Scotland’s Angharad Evans, and the women’s 200 butterfly. There was also competition in the men’s and women’s 400 medley relays, and Para action in the women’s S9 100 freestyle and the men’s S7 50 freestyle.
Here is an event-by-event recap of the Day Six prelims:
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
Scotland’s Angharad Evans will chase her second gold medal of the week from Lane Four in the final of the 200 breaststroke. Evans, who previously won the title in the 100 breaststroke, went 2:26.48 to take the top seed over four laps. She was followed in qualifying by Aussie Tara Kinder (2:26.99), with the South African duo of Aimee Canny (2:27.05) and Kaylene Corbett (2:27.32) in third and fourth.
Men’s 200 Freestyle
A few days after splitting 1:44 during the 800 freestyle relay, England’s James Guy etched himself as the man to beat in the final of the 200 freestyle. The veteran and lynchpin of British relays through the years went 1:45.69 in his heat, followed by Australian Sam Short (1:45.90), who will look to add his titles from the 400 freestyle and 800 freestyle. Short also has the final of the 1500 freestyle as part of a demanding double.
Aussie Harrison Turner (1:46.08) and Wales’ Matt Richards (1:46.50) were third and fourth, but the final will not include Scotland’s Duncan Scott, who was a stunning 10th in 1:47.83. That mark was only good for fourth place in his heat and will leave the defending champion to watch the final.
Women’s 200 Butterfly
Scotland’s Ciara Schlosshan and Keanna Macinnes put together strong morning performances en route to the first and third seeds in the final. Schlosshan clocked a time of 2:08.47 while Macinnes just snuck under the 2:09 barrier with a time of 2:08.99. The Scots will have their hands full, however, with Australian Lizzy Dekkers, who checked in as the second seed behind a time of 2:08.64. Dekkers is a two-time medalist at the World Championships in the event, and the defending champion.
Men’s 50 Freestyle (S7)
South Africa’s Christian Sadie wasn’t in the mood to hold back in the prelims, as he established a Games record in the S7 classification of the 50 freestyle. Sadie zipped to a time of 28.45, which was just under a second faster than the 29.44 of Singapore’s Wei Soong Toh. Advancing as the third seed was England’s Bruce Dee (31.50).
Women’s 100 Freestyle (S9)
The Australians will look for a podium sweep during the final after locking down the top-three seeds in the heats. Pacing the Dolphins was Lakeisha Patterson, who recorded a mark of 1:04.45. Countrywomen Emily Beecroft (1:04.83) and Victoria Belando Nicholson (1:05.65) were next, with Scotland’s Toni Shaw in four in 1:05.73).
Women’s 400 Medley Relay
Australia will be the team to beat in the women’s 400 medley relay after posting the top time of the morning, an effort of 4:01.14. The team of Hannah Fredericks, Sienna Toohey, Brittany Castelluzzo and Mollie O’Callaghan set the stage for Australia to put an exclamation point on the women’s competition. Placing second in prelims was Scotland, going 4:05.23.
Men’s 400 Medley Relay
The final prelim of the meet was paced by Australia, which relied on the quartet of Isaac Cooper, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Ben Armbruster and Jamie Jack to turn in a time of 3:34.67. An entirely new squad will come in at night and will try to fend off England, the second seed in 3:35.84.