Commonwealth Games, Day One Semifinals: Pieter Coetze Rips Games Record in 50 Backstroke; Adam Ramsay-Peaty Rolling
Four years after claiming the silver medal in the 50-meter backstroke at the Commonwealth Games, South Africa’s Pieter Coetze is ready to move to the top step of the podium. After leading the morning prelims, Cooetze set a Games record of 24.29 during the semifinals in Glasgow on Friday night. The mark by Coetze was .27 faster than the 24.56 of countryman Rouard van Renen.
Coetze is a well-established force in the backstroke events, having won gold in the 100-meter distance at last year’s World Championships in Singapore. At the World Champs, Coetze also snared silver in the 50 backstroke and 200 backstroke. At his second Commonwealth Games, Coetze has positioned himself favorably through two rounds, and it will take a big upset to deny him the gold medal.
While van Renen was second-fastest in the semifinals, Great Britain’s Oliver Morgan (24.65) and Australian Isaac Cooper (24.85) were third and fourth. Aussie Henry Allan, a promising teenager, was fifth in 24.87.
Women’s 50 Butterfly
As was the case in the prelims, Alex Perkins of Australia and South Africa’s Erin Gallagher dominated in the 50 butterfly, with Perkins leading the way into the final. Perkins logged a time of 25.48 while Gallagher went 25.69 to account for the only two sub-26 performances in the field. Advancing in the No. 3 position was New Zealand’s Hazel Ouwehand in 26.01, while South Africa’s Jessica Thompson was fourth in 26.02.
Men’s 100 Breaststroke
England’s Adam Ramsay-Peaty is one race away from capturing a third Commonwealth Games title in the 100 breaststroke, as the two-time Olympic champion topped the semifinals of the event. Ramsay-Peaty posted a performance of 59.19 to nail down Lane Four in the final, where he’ll battle with Australian Sam Williamson, who was the No. 2 qualifier in 59.27.
Two other swimmers cracked the minute barrier, as England’s Filip Nowacki went 59.52 for third. Qualifying fourth was Canada’s Oliver Dawson in 59.87.