Commonwealth Games, Day Two Prelims: Josh Liendo Tops 50 Freestyle, as Cam McEvoy Seeks Elusive Title
Two of Australia’s biggest stars will get their individual programs underway during the second morning of prelims at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. After helping the Dolphins to a victory in the 400-meter freestyle relay on the opening day of the meet, Mollie O’Callaghan will line up for the 100 freestyle, an event in which she captured the gold medal at the 2022 meet in Birmingham.
On the men’s side, Olympic champion and world-record holder Cam McEvoy will go to work in the 50 freestyle. McEvoy owns the global standard at 20.88, which he managed earlier this year at the China Open. While McEvoy won Olympic gold in Paris in 2024 and is a two-time world champion (2023/2025) in the 50 freestyle, he is chasing his first Commonwealth Games title in the event.
Here is an event-by-event recap of the Day Two prelims:
Women’s 200 Freestyle
Coming off a victory in the 400 freestyle on the opening night of the Games, Australian Lani Pallister topped qualifying in the 200 freestyle with an easy mark of 1:57.02. She was followed by countrywoman Inez Miller, who covered her prelims outing in 1:57.45. England’s Freya Colbert was next in 1:58.18, while Aussie Mollie O’Callaghan (1:58.22) and New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather exerted minimal energy in advancing.
Men’s 50 Freestyle
The opening round of the men’s dash featured a trio of sub-22 performances on the way to the evening semifinals. Canada’s Josh Liendo delivered the quickest effort of the morning, as his time of 21.80 was ahead of the 21.87 of reigning Olympic titlist and world-record holder Cam McEvoy. In third was McEvoy’s Aussie teammate, Jamie Jack, who turned in a swim of 21.95.
Women’s 100 Backstroke
Canada’s Kylie Masse maneuvered through the prelims of the 100 backstroke with one of two sub-minute performances, going 59.90 for the second seed in the evening semifinals. Masse is a two-time Commonwealth Games medalist in the event, having won gold in 2018 and silver in 2022. She finished just behind Australian Iona Anderson, who clocked in at 59.86 for the top seed.
Men’s 100 Butterfly
Australian Matt Temple paced qualifying in the men’s 100 butterfly, where four athletes dipped under 52 seconds during their morning swims. Temple turned in a mark of 51.30, which was followed by a 51.62 from England’s Ed Mildred. Canada’s Josh Liendo, who already surged to the top seed in the 50 freestyle, cruised to a 51.69 to complete his morning double. Also under the 52-second barrier was Aussie Ben Armbruster in 51.74.
Women’s 100 Breaststroke
Favorite Angharad Evans of Scotland will race in Lane Four of the second semifinal at night, thanks to a 1:06.34 outing during prelims. Evans was one of three women to go under 1:07, with South African Aimee Canny, a University of Virginia standout, advancing as the second seed in 1:06.68. Taking the third position was Australian Ella Ramsay, behind a 1:06.99.
Men’s 400 Freestyle
Targeting the world record in the final, Aussie Sam Short eased through the prelims of the 400 freestyle with a top-seeded time of 3:46.23. That outing was ahead of fellow Australian Ben Goedemans, who touched the wall in 3:46.47. Short is aiming for the world record of 3:39.96, held by Germany’s Lukas Martens. In third and fourth during prelims were Northern Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen (3:47.01) and Aussie Elijah Winnington (3:47.84). England’s James Guy was next in 3:48.21.
Women’s S14 200 Freestyle
Northern Ireland’s Bethany Firth set the pace in prelims with a time of 2:09.96. She’ll have English pursuers in the final, with Poppy Maskill second and Georgia Sheffield third. Maskill, the five-time Paralympic medalist, clocked in at 2:10.71, and Sheffield followed in 2:10.90. Madeleine McTernan of Australia was fourth in 2:11.20.
Men’s S14 200 Freestyle
William Ellard claimed the Commonwealth Games record in an event in which he won the Paralympic title two summers ago, going 1:53.52. He’s the swimmer to beat in the final, with Jack Ireland of Australia second in 1:56.33. Rhys Darbey of Wales was third in 1:58.20, with countryman Dylan Broom following.