Commonwealth Preview – Day Four Finals – Aussies Go Head To Head For the 100 Free Crown

DAY 4 FINALS – 2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

• Finals start at 7PM Glasgow time; 2PM US East Coast time, 2AM Sydney time, 8PM South Africa time

DAY 4 FINALS – EVENT TIMELINE

All times local Glasgow time

• 7:07 pm – Women’s 200 backstroke – Final
• 7:15 pm – Men’s 100 freestyle – Final
• 7:31 pm – Women’s 100 freestyle – Semi-final 1
• 7:35 pm – Women’s 100 freestyle – Semi-final 2
• 7:42 pm – Men’s 50 breaststroke – Semi final 1
• 7:46 pm – Men’s 50 breaststroke – Semi-final 2
• 8:02 pm – Women’s 100 breaststroke SB9 – Final
• 8:09 pm – Women’s 200 IM – Final
• 8:17 pm – Men’s 100 butterfly – Semi-final 1
• 8:21 pm – Men’s 100 butterfly – Semi-final 2
• 8:28 pm – Women’s 100 breaststroke – Semi-final 1
• 8:32 pm – Women’s 100 breaststroke – Semi-final 2
• 8:59 pm – Men’s 50 backstroke – Final
• 9:04 pm – Women’s 50 butterfly – Final 
• 9:20 pm – 4 x 200 freestyle – Final 

ALL THE LINKS YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THE 2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES CAN BE FOUND HERE

Magnussen vs McEvoy

There should be a lot of good races and a lot to look forward to tonight, but every evening has to have a headliner and tonight’s is a big one; Magnussen vs McEvoy for the 100 freestyle crown. Coming into the games James Magnussen, who is the defending world champion and Cameron McEvoy were ranked first and second in the world rankings. Magnussen’s season best of 47.59 tops the standings while McEvoy sits in second with a 47.65.

Magnussen has experience on his side as a two time world champion and Olympic silver medalist. He also comes in with a lifetime best that is the quickest of the two having posted a 47.10 at the Australian Olympic Trials in 2012. McEvoy has youth on his side. The 20 year old swam on the Australian Olympic team as a relay swimmer and finished fourth in the 100 freestyle at the 2013 World Championships. He comes into the event with a lifetime best of 47.65.

Magnussen has the speed, with a lifetime best of 21.52 in the 50 freestyle, while McEvoy has the endurance, coming in with a best time of 1:45.56.

Magnussen will be looking for revenge for his loss to McEvoy at the Australian Championships, while McEvoy will be looking for his first individual gold at a major international competition.

Halsall Highlight of the Night

Last night Fran Halsall of England provided us with many highlights which included breaking the Commonwealth and games records in both the 50 freestyle and 50 butterfly. In the freestyle she was pushed by Australian Cate Campbell who finished just four one-hundredths of a second back of Halsall who recorded a winning time of 23.96.

No one challenged Halsall in the 50 butterfly as she dominated her semi-final heat posting a 25.36 half a second ahead of Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace of the Bahamas.

Tonight Halsall will once again look to break the Commonwealth record in the 50 butterfly, as the world record of 24.43 set by Sarah Sjostrom earlier this year will be out of reach. She also returns to the water to once again battle Campbell, but this time it will be in the 100 freestyle. She is going the semi-finals tied with Australia’s Bronte Campbell with the third fastest qualifying time.

Ever Improving O’Connor

Siobhan-Marie O’Connor of England will be competing in her best event this evening, the women’s 200 IM. Coming into the games O’Connor was ranked second in the world having posted a 2:09.63 with only Australian Alicia Coutts having swum faster having recorded a 2:08.89. They will be going into this evening with the top ranked times, with O’Connor posting a 2:11.42 and Coutts recording a 2:12.00.

O’Connor has already seen substantial improvements in both the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly coming away with the silver medal in both events. The question is can she do it again in her best event?