Women’s 400 IM

2010 Champion – Hannah Miley (SCO) – 4:38.83

Commonwealth Games Record – Hannah Miley (SCO) – 4:38.27 (2014)

Commonwealth Record – Stephanie Rice (AUS) – 4:29.45 (2008)

Hannah Miley had an incredible race taking the women’s 400 IM in a new games record of 4:31.76. It was also a lifetime textile best for Miley whose previous best from 2012 was a 4:32.67 and just off her lifetime best and Scottish record of 4:31.33. She also repeats as the 400 IM Commonwealth games champion.

Miley told BBC‘s Nick Hope that she tried to drown out the crowd noise before the race, but that it definitely helped once she hit the water,

“I tried to drown out the noise a little bit before the race,” said Miley “But it was really great and helped me both tonight and in the heats.”

Miley was challenged the entire way by Aimee Willmott of England who finished the race in a time of 4:33.01, breaking the English record of 4:33.64 which she set earlier this year. Willmott took the lead in the backstroke and still had close to a full second lead over Miley heading into the freestyle leg. Both women were well under world record pace at the 300 meter mark.

Miley caught Willmott in the first 50 meters of the freestyle and was powered by a more than enthusiastic home crowd who witnessed Scotland’s first gold medal on home soil.

Race Splits

Miley – 1:02.52/1:09.68/1:16.41/1:03.15 – 4:31.76

Willmott – 1:02.72/1:08.54/1:16.45/1:04.32 – 4:33.01

The race for the bronze was extremely tight between Keryn McMaster of Australia and Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson of Canada. Heading into the final 100 meters the Canadian had a lead of eight tenths of a second over McMaster who had a freestyle split of 1:03.32 to over take Seltenreich-Hodgson finishing in a time of 4:36.35 dropping over three seconds off her previous lifetime best of 4:39.36. Seltenreich-Hodgson finished in a time of 4:36.88 also shaving off over three seconds from her personal best of 4:40.07 coming into the games.

Emily Overholt of Canada finished fifth in a time of 4:37.89, Marni Oldershaw of Canada finished sixth in a time of 4:46.26, Jessica Pengelly of Australia finished seventh in a time of 4:47.00 followed by Danielle Lowe of England who finished eighth in a time of 4:48.95.

Men’s 400 freestyle

2010 Champion – Ryan Cochrane (CAN) – 3:48.48

Commonwealth Games Record – Ian Thorpe (AUS) – 3:40.08 (2002)

Commonwealth Record – Ian Thorpe (AUS) – 3:40.08 (2002)

The men’s 400 freestyle was an incredible race between Ryan Cochrane of Canada, David McKeon of Australia, James Guy of England and Mack Horton of Australia. McKeon lead the race by more than a second up until the last 50 meters when 1500 freestyle Olympic silver medalist used his finishing speed to overtake the Aussie. Cochrane, who has been working dilligently over the last few years to improve his 400, swam the final 50 in a time of 27.26 compared to McKeon’s 28.85.

Cochrane took the race in a lifetime best and new Canadian record time of 3:43.46, breaking his previous mark of 3:44.85 becoming the second swimmer on the evening to repeat as an event champion. McKeon collected the silver in a time of 3:44.09, holding off a fast chasing Guy who won the bronze in a time of 3:44.58 and Horton who finished fourth in a time of 3:44.91.

Race Splits:

Cochrane – 54.71/56.64/56.61/55.50 – 3:43.46

McKeon – 53.19/56.36/57.11/57.43 – 3:44.09

Guy – 53.69/57.11/57.04/56.74 – 3:44.58

Horton – 54.27/57.37/57.57/55.70 – 3:44.91

Daniel Wallace of Scotland finished fifth in a time of 3:46.11, Jordan Harrison of Australia finished sixth in a time of 3:48.09, Robbie Renwick of Scotland finished seventh in a time of 3:48.81 followed by teammate Stephen Milne who posted a time of 3:49.90.

Women’s 200 freestyle

Event History:

2010 Champion – Kylie Palmer (AUS) – 1:57.50

Commonwealth Games Record – Caitlin McClatchey (SCO) – 1:57.25 (2006)

Commonwealth Record – Joanne Jackson (GBR) – 1:55.54 (2009)

For the second event in row a McKeon held the lead going into the final 50 meters of a race. This time it was Emma McKeon of Australia who eventually ended up winning the women’s 200 freestyle, taking the event in a time of 1:55.57, beating her previous best of 1:55.68. Unlike her brother McKeon did not have a substantial lead going into the final lap of the race, turning just a tenth of a second ahead of Siobhan-Marie O’Connor of England.

O’Connor lead at the 100 meter mark, but was not able to keep up with the Aussie. She finished second in a time of 1:55.82, beating her lifetime best of 1:56.59, improving an astonishing 4.21 seconds on the year.

Both McKeon and O’Connor finished under Caitlin McClatchey’s games record of 1:57.25. McKeon just missed the Commonwealth record of 1:55.54 set by Joanne Jackson in 2009.

Race Splits:

McKeon – 27.01/29.14/29.87/29.55 – 1:55.57

O’Connor – 26.90/29.23/29.99/29.70 – 1:55.82

Australian Bronte Barratt, who came into the event as the third fastest women in the Commonwealth, with a 1:56.61, maintained that position collecting the bronze in a time of 1:56.62.

Lauren Boyle of New Zealand, who took seventh in this event in 2010, finished fourth in a lifetime best of 1:57.00 followed by Brittany McLean of Canada who touched in a time of 1;57.20. Both women were able to hold off Jazz Carlin of Wales who had an incredible final 50 meters. Carlin, who won the silver in this in 2010, had the fastest final 50 split of the race coming home in a time of 28.86. Having that type of closing speed should be a worrisome sign for those athletes who will face Carlin in the 400 and 800 freestyle later in the competition.

Samantha Cheverton of Canada finished seventh in a time of 1:57.79 followed by Karin Prinsloo of South Africa, who was well of her season’s best of 1:56.17, finishing in a time of 1:58.95.

Men’s 100 freestyle S9

The first world record and the first medal sweep for a nation occurred in the men’s 100 freestyle S9. Rowan Crothers of Australia took gold in a new world record time of 54.58, Matthew Cowdrey‘s record of 55.30. Cowdrey collected the silver finishing in a time of 56.33 followed by fellow Aussie Brenden Hall who hit the wall in a time of 56.85.

Prasanta Karmakar of India finished fourth in a time of 1:04.73 followed by Scody Victor of Mauritius who finished in a time of 1:18.89.

Women’s 50 breaststroke – Semi-Finals

2010 Champion – Leiston Pickett (AUS) – 30.84

(AUS) – 30.84 Commonwealth Games Record – Jade Edmistone (AUS) – 30.51 (2006)

(AUS) – 30.51 (2006) Commonwealth Record – Sarah Katsoulis (AUS) – 30.16 (2009)

Definding Champion Leiston Pickett of Australia took the first semi-final in a time of 30.64, shaving six hundredths of a second off her season best of 30.70, which she posted in the prelims. She was followed by Sophie Taylor of England who recorded a time of 30.86, just off her prelim time of 30.56. Kathryn Johnstone of Scotland finished third in a time of 31.12 followed by Lorna Tonks of Australia who touched in a time of 31.44.

The second semi-final saw 2010 Commonwealth and 2012 Olympic finalist Alia Atkinson of Jamaica break the Commonwealth Games record posting a 30.17. Atkinson just missed Sarah Katsoulis’s 2009 Commonwealth record of 30.16. Canadian Tera van Belien touched second in a time of 30.74 followed by Corrie Scott of Scotland who qualified for the final in a time of 30.79 and Andrea Strachan of Scotland who took the final spot in the top eight with a time of 31.52.

Finalists are as follows:

Alia Atkinson (JAM) Leiston Pickett (AUS) Tera van Beilen (CAN) Corrie Scott (SCO) Sophie Taylor (ENG) Kathryn Johnstone (SCO) Lorna Tonks (AUS) Andrea Strachan (SCO)

Men’s 50 butterfly – Semi-Finals

2010 Champion – Jason Dunford (KEN) – 23.35

Commonwealth Games Record – Roland Schoeman (RSA) – 23.14 (2006)

Commonwealth Record – Matt Targett (AUS) – 22.73 (2009)

Commonwealth Games record hold Roland Schoeman of South Africa took the first semi-final in a time of 23.25. Schoeman’s season’s best of 23.07 is the second fastest time in the world next to Cesar Cielo, so expect the seasoned veteran to have a little more left in the tank for tomorrow’s final. he was followed by Andrew Barratt of England who recorded a 23.41, Joeseph Scooling of Singapore who posted a 23.48 and Christopher Wright of Australia who hit the wall in a time of 23.78.

In the second semi-final Ben Proud of England just missed his own national record of 23.10 qualifying for the final in a time of 23.16. Proud was pushed by Olympic champion Chad le Clos of South Africa who posted a time of 23.29. He was followed by Jayden Hadler of Australia who qualified in a time of 23.67 and Brett Fraser of the Cayman Islands who finished in a time of 23.96.

Finalists are as follows:

Ben Proud (ENG) Roland Schoeman (RSA) Chad le Clos (RSA) Adam Barratt (ENG) Joseph Schooling (SIN) Jayden Hadler (AUS) Christopher Wright (AUS) Brett Fraser (CAY)

Women’s 100 butterfly – Semi-Finals

Event History:

2010 Champion – Alicia Coutts (AUS) – 57.53

(AUS) – 57.53 Commonwealth Games Record – Jessicah Schipper (AUS) – 57.48 (2006)

(AUS) – 57.48 (2006) Commonwealth Record – Jessicah Schipper (AUS) – 56.23 (2009)

Canadian Katerine Savard took the first semi-final in the women’s 100 butterfly posting a time of 57.83. Savard came into the competition with the top ranked time in the Commonwealth having posted a 57.27 earlier in the year. Emma McKeon returned to the pool after an impressive win in the women’s 200 freestyle finishing second to Savard in a time of 58.40. She was followed closely by Welsh teammates Jemma Lowe (58.47) and Alys Thomas (59.52).

200 freestyle silver medalist Siobhan-Marie O’Connor took the second semi-final in a time of 57.57 and goes into tomorrow night’s final as the fastest qualifier. 2010 Commonwealth champion Alicia Coutts of Australia finished second in a time of 58.07. She was followed by fellow Aussie Ellen Gandy who touched in a time of 58.48, Canadian Audrey Lacroix who posted a 58.69 and Rachael Kelly of England who hit the wall in a time of 59.02.

Finalists are as follows:

Siobhan-Marie O’Connor (ENG) Katerine Savard (CAN) Alicia Coutts (AUS) Emma McKeon (AUS) Jemma Lowe (WAL) Ellen Gandy (AUS) Audrey Lacroix (CAN) Rachael Kelly (ENG)

Men’s 100 backstroke – Semi-Finals

2010 Champion – Liam Tancock (ENG) – 53.54

Commonwealth Games Record – Chris Walker-Hebborn (ENG) – 53.30 (2014)

Commonwealth Record – Liam Tancock (GBR) – 52.73 (2009)

Josh Beaver of Australia took the first semi-final in a time of 53.74. He was followed by Corey Main of New Zealand who posted a 54.28 and Australian Ben Treffers who finished in a time of 54.60.

Australian Mitch Larkin came incredible close to breaking Chris Walker-Hebborn‘s games record of 53.30, which he set in the prelims. Larkin qualified for the final with the top time of 53.33. He was followed by Commonwealth record hold Liam Tancock of England who posted a 53.49 and Walker-Hebborn who recorded a 53.57.

Craig McNally of Scotland (54.40) and Russell Wood of Canada (54.45) were the final two qualifiers for tomorrow night’s final.

Finalists are as follows:

Mitch Larkin (AUS) Liam Tancock (ENG) Chris Walker-Hebborn (ENG) Josh Beaver (AUS) Corey Main (NZL) Craig McNally (SCO) Russell Wood (CAN) Ben Treffers (AUS)

Men’s 200 breaststroke

2010 Champion – Brenton Rickard (AUS) – 2:10.89

Commonwealth Games Record – Ross Murdoch (SCO) – 2:08.78

Commonwealth Record – Christian Sprenger (AUS) – 2:07.31 (2009)

Scottish athlete Russ Murdoch brought the hometown crowd to it’s feet as he became the second Scottish swimmer of the evening to collect gold, winning the men’s 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:07.30. Murdoch’s time is now the top time in the world and breaks both the British and Commonwealth records.

Record Splits:

Murdoch – 29.88/1:02.05 (31.17)/1:35.31 (32.66)/2:07.30 (31.99)

Sprenger (2009) – 28.91/1:01.51 (32.60)/1:34.49 (32.98)/2:07.31 (32.82)

Jamieson (2012) – 29.20/1:01.92 (32.72)/1:34.81 (32.89)/2:07.43 (32.62)

Murdoch has had an absolutely incredible year. Coming into the 2014 season the 20 year old had a lifetime best of 2:13.62, which he posted in 2012 and has improved that by an astonishing six seconds. Murdoch had been more of a 100 specialist up until this year, finishing 11th at the World Championships in Barcelona last summer.

Murdoch had to beat fellow Scot and Olympic silver medalist Michael Jamieson, something he was not able to do earlier in the year at the Scottish National Championships. Jamieson turned just behind Murdoch at the 150 meter mark, but was not able to stay with him in the final lap splitting 32.96, eventually finishing second in a time of 2:08.40.

Andrew Willis and Adam Peaty of England battled for the bronze. Willis held off Peaty who made a valiant effort to catch his English teammate. Willis finished in a time of 2:09.87 followed by Peaty who posted a time of 2:10.02.

Calum Tait of Scotland finished fifth in a time of 2:11.53 followed by James Wiby of England who finished in a time of 2:11.53 and Rob Holderness of Wales who recorded a 2:12.35.

Former Commonwealth record holder Christian Sprenger of Australia lead the race at the half way point turning in a time of 1:01.71, but swam the final 100 meters in a time of 1:10.98, finishing in eighth with a final time of 2:12.69.

Women’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay

2010 Champion – Australia – 3:36.36

Commonwealth Games Record – Australia – 3:36.36 (2010)

Commonwealth Record – Australia – 3:32.43 (2013)

It was an amazing first night of swimming in Glasgow with Hannah Miley, Emma McKeon and Ross Murdoch all breaking games records, so why not cap it off with a world record. That is exactly what the Australian women’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay team did. The team of Bronte Campbell, Melanie Schlanger, Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell took down the Netherlands world record of 3:31.72 which they posted in 2009.

Record Splits

Australia 2014 – Bronte Campbell (53.15)/Melanie Schlanger (52.76)/Emma McKeon (52.91)/Cate Campbell (52.16) – 3:30.98

Netherlands 2009 – Inge Dekker (53.61)/Ranomi Kromowidjojo (52.30)/Femke Heemskerk (53.03)/Marleen Veldhuis (52.78) – 3:31.72

The relay record was not the only record for the Australians in this event, lead off swimmer Bronte Campbell broke Libby Lenton’s 2006 games record. Campbell led off in a time of 53.15 beating Lenton’s record of 53.54.

The Aussies were followed by the English team that obliterated the national record in the event by almost five seconds. The team made up of Siobhan-Marie O’Connor (54.06), Fran Halsall (53.17), Amy Smith (53.92) and Becki Turner (54.61) finished with a final time of 3:35.72 breaking the 2010 record of 3:40.03.

The Canadians collected the bronze finishing in a time of 3:40.00.

They were followed by New Zealand (3:43.83), Scotland (3:44.56), Wales (3:45.40), Singapore (3:49.69) and Northern Ireland (3:52.88)

Full results can be found here.