Commonwealth Games, Day Five Prelims: Lewis Clareburt Sets Up Title Defense in 400 IM
It’s been a strong week for New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt at the Commonwealth Games, with the veteran already winning a gold medal in the 200-meter butterfly and silver in the 200 individual medley. On Tuesday morning, the veteran will get to work in his best event, the 400 IM. Clareburt is the reigning champion in the event, thanks to the 4:08.70 that handed him the crown in Birmingham four years ago.
Clareburt will be tested by the likes of England’s Max Litchfield and the Australian duo of Will Petric and Brendon Smith, and all four athletes should advance to the final without expending much energy. Smith was the silver medalist to Clareburt at the last edition of the Games. Beyond the 400 IM, prelims action on Day Five will unfold in the women’s 200 IM, men’s 50 butterfly, women’s 50 freestyle, men’s 200 breaststroke, men’s 100 backstroke, women’s 50 freestyle (S13), men’s 50 freestyle (S13) and the mixed 400 medley relay.
Here is an event-by-event recap of the Day Five prelims:
Men’s 400 Individual Medley
Defending champion Lewis Clareburt of New Zealand secured Lane Four for his title defense, as he cruised through his morning heat of the 400 IM in 4:16.49, just ahead of the 4:16.54 of Australian Will Petric. England’s Max Litchfield, the fourth-place finisher in the event at the past three Olympic Games, was next in 4:16.82 while Canada’s Lorne Wigginton went 4:17.23 for fourth.
Women’s 200 Individual Medley
A tight battle for gold in the 200 IM is shaping up, but it will be Aussie Jenna Forrester who carries the top seed into the final. Already the champion of the 200 backstroke and 400 IM, Forrester clocked 2:10.92 for her morning swim, slightly faster than the 2:10.99 of South Africa’s Aimee Canny. They will be joined in the chase for the podium by the English duo of Amalie Smith (2:11.38) and Abbie Wood (2:11.69).
Men’s 50 Butterfly
The Aussie pair of Kyle Chalmers and Ben Armbruster easily moved on to the semifinals of the 50 butterfly. Chalmers, who will race for the title in the 100 freestyle, went 23.07 for the quickest mark of the morning. Armbruster, the bronze medalist in the 100 butterfly, went 23.13. South Africa’s Calvyn Justus (23.44) and Canadian Josh Liendo (23.66) finished in third and fourth.
Women’s 50 Freestyle
The dominance of Australia has been a theme of the Commonwealth Games action in the pool and the 50 freestyle reflected that angle. Meg Harris, the winner of the 100 freestyle, sprinted to a time of 24.38 for the top effort of the morning. She will be joined in the semifinals by countrywomen Shayna Jack (24.46) and Alex Perkins (24.96).
Men’s 200 Breaststroke
Canada’s Oliver Dawson will try to supply a victory for his country after recording the top mark of the prelims in the 200 breaststroke. It has not been a good week for Canada in Glasgow, but Dawson can ease the struggles after going 2:10.05 in his heat. Qualifying second for the final was Jersey’s Filip Nowacki, who turned in a swim of 2:10.46, with England’s Greg Butler next at 2:10.73. Former world-record holder Zac Stubblety-Cook of Australia checked in at 2:11.07 for fourth place.
Men’s 100 Backstroke
England’s Oliver Morgan was the only swimmer under 54 seconds, going 53.65 to gain clearance over Scotland’s Matthew Ward (54.04). The heavy favorite, South Africa’s Pieter Coetze eased into the semifinals with a time of 54.12, with countryman Ruard van Renen at 54.14. Coetze has already won gold in the 50 back and 200 back and will try to complete the sweep.
Women’s 50 Freestyle (S13)
Australian Kirralee Hayes put significant space between herself and the rest of the field in the prelims of the women’s 50 freestyle (S13). Hayes went 27.69, which was more than a second clear of the 28.78 by South African Danika Vyncke (28.78). Aussie Jenna Jones was next in 29.09.
Men’s 50 Freestyle (S13)
It was a bunched morning in the prelims of the men’s 50 freestyle (S13), as the top four qualifiers were separated by just .20. Earning the top seed for the final was Canadian Nicolas Turbide, on the strength of a 25.29 effort. He was followed in the No. 2 position by Scotland’s Stephen Clegg (25.33) while South African Nathan Hendricks (25.38) and England’s Matthew Redfern (25.49) were next.
