Commonwealth Games, Day Two Semifinals: Jamie Jack Leads 50 Freestyle, But Cam McEvoy Lurking
It will be a busy session for Canadian Josh Liendo, who will race the semifinals of the 50-meter freestyle and 100 butterfly on the second night of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Liendo has opted to focus on the Commonwealth Games as his primary competition of the summer, with next month’s Pan Pacific Championships off the Olympic medalist’s schedule.
Liendo will battle world-record holder and Cam McEvoy in the 50 freestyle, while Matt Temple has emerged as his biggest foe in the 100 fly. On the women’s side, semifinal action at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre will be held in the 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke. Scotland’s Angharad Evans is the top gun in the breaststroke while Canada’s Kylie Masse headlines the field in the back.
Here is a recap of the semifinal races from Scotland:
Women’s 100 Backstroke
The semifinals of the women’s 100 backstroke were slow, with only Canadian Kylie Masse breaking the minute barrier. Masse touched the wall in 59.71 and will seek her third Commonwealth Games medal in the event when the final is held on Sunday. Australia’s Hannah Fredericks (1:00.10) and Iona Anderson (1:00.10) advanced as the second and third seeds, while England’s Lauren Cox was fourth in 1:00.39.
Men’s 50 Freestyle
An Australian is the top seed for the final of the 50 freestyle, but not the guy most expected. Jamie Jack won the second semifinal in 21.55 to book Lane Four for Sunday’s final, with countryman and Olympic champ Cam McEvoy advancing as the third seed. McEvoy cruised to victory in the first semifinal, going 21.64. McEvoy owns the world record in the event at 20.88, and remains the favorite for the gold medal.
Canadian Josh Liendo qualified as the second seed, going 21.61 in the first of his two races on the day. Liendo was scheduled to contest the 100 butterfly later in the session. Also touching in sub-22 were South Africa’s Calvyn Justus and Australian Flynn Southam, who posted identical marks of 21.86. Southam was coming off a 47.09 effort while leading off Australia’s title-winning 400 freestyle relay on Friday.
Men’s 100 Butterfly
Australia’s Matt Temple and Canada’s Josh Liendo gave a preview of what should be a stellar duel in the final of the 100 butterfly. In the semifinals of the event, Temple clocked a time of 50.63 to narrowly edge Liendo, who finished in 50.67. Temple’s time was good for a Games record, lowering the 50.65 of South African Chad le Clos from the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
England’s Ed Millard (51.30) and Aussie Ben Armbruster (51.32) will try to get on the podium after securing middle lanes for the final.
Women’s 100 Breaststroke
Scotland’s Angharad Evans will be tough to beat in the final of the 100 breaststroke. Evans won the second semifinal behind a time of 1:05.34, which earned her the top seed in comfortable fashion. Evans, who has been a world-leading 1:04.96 this year, posted the fastest time of the semis by .70, with South Africa’s Aimee Canny (1:06.04) advancing in the No. 2 spot.
Also going under 1:07 were Australia’s Sienna Toohey (1:06.69) and Canada’s Sophie Angus (1:06.74).