TEAM ENGLAND CELEBRATE BUMPER NIGHT IN THE POOL
Team England are celebrating Commonwealth success in the
pool with gold and silvers in both the 50m Backstroke and
200m Freestyle events.
Matt Clay (Swansea) upset the form books by taking gold in
the 50m Backstroke ahead of team mate and World Championship
bronze medallist Liam Tancock (Loughborough University).
"I've been on the international circuit for three or
four years now, but this is my first major international competition
and to PB by 0.70 seconds over 50m is just unheard of,"
beamed Clay. "I love the atmosphere here and the massive
crowds get you going, I'm just so pleased."
Clay, who set two lifetime bests on his way to the final,
set one more to take the title in 25.04. Tancock wasn't able
to repeat his sub-25 second performance of the semis and took
silver in 25.10 for the first England one-two of the evening.
"I didn't have a great start this time, but that can
happen on a 50m dash," explained Tancock. "It's
disappointing not to win, but I'm pretty pleased with a silver
at my first Commonwealth Games and the gold couldn't have
gone to a better man."
There was another surprise in the 200m Freestyle as Ross
Davenport (University of Bath) beat favourite Simon Burnett
(Wycombe) to the top spot. In a tight race, a place on the
podium came down to the final touch and Davenport edged ahead
of Burnett in 1:47.29 to take the title in a lifetime best.
Burnett won silver in 1:47.38 and Brent Hayden of Canada won
bronze in 1:47.41.
"That's probably one of the easiest races I've swum,
when everything's pumping and going right," said a delighted
Davenport. "Touching the wall first and being Commonwealth
Champion is just the best feeling in the world.
"With the Scots doing so well yesterday, we had to do
something tonight and the home nations are having a fantastic
meet."
Burnett was pleased to medal and reach the podium with team
mate Davenport.
"I wanted to come here and get my first individual medal
at a major event," he said. "It would have been
great to be gold, but I'm delighted with silver.
"Before the race we both said we'd make the podium and
get and English one-two - it really couldn't be better."
Kate Haywood couldn't overcome the Australian trio of Leisel
Jones, Jade Edmistone and Tarnee White in the 50m Breaststroke
final and finished in fifth place behind former England team
mate Zoe Baker in 31.84.
Chris Cook set the standard in the men's 100m Breaststroke
semis, setting a new Games Record of 60.94 to qualify fastest
for tomorrow's final. Darren Mew and James Gibson have also
qualified in 61.73 and 61.76 respectively, to put England
in with a chance of taking all three medals in tomorrow night's
event.
"I've come here to enjoy it," said Cook. "Swimming
in front of this crowd is amazing, I just love it and I think
I'm definitely more suited to the 100m than the 200m!"
Gibson qualified as the third fastest English swimmer through
to the finals, but believes there is more to come.
"That was pretty quick going out," he said. "I
haven't shaved or anything yet, so I'm happy with that time.
"It's great swimming in front of that crowd and the
English team are doing really well. Matt Clay had a great
swim this evening and hopefully we can follow that tomorrow.
I can't wait for the final."
In his second event of the evening, Clay qualified for the
finals of the 50m Butterfly and goes through in joint sixth
in a time of 24.08 seconds. Mark Foster, who is competing
at is sixth Commonwealth Games, failed to qualify in this
event and finished tenth overall in 24.36.
15-year-old Fran Halsall, who qualified for the finals of
the 100m Freestyle and is ranked fifth with a time of 55.86,
is joined by team mate Ros Brett who qualifies with a time
of 56.20.
"That felt good tonight and I'm going to give it my
best shot tomorrow, a 54 second time would be great,"
said an excited Halsall. "This is great. I'm getting
the experience under my belt and I'm looking forward to the
future."
In the women's 100m Backstroke, Mel Marshall and Katy Sexton
have both made it through to the finals. Marshall's gutsy
performance saw he clock a time of 61.91 and progress in third
position, while Sexton's time of 62.80 puts her through in
seventh.
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