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.
