Leisel Jones leads Australian 1-2-3 in Delhi
Leisel Jones claimed gold in the women’s 200 metres breaststroke as Australia sealed their first one-two-three finish in the pool at the Commonwealth Games as the green and gold continue to dominate the swimming in Delhi.
Jones, the gold medallist in this event in Melbourne in 2006 and Manchester in 2002, held off teammates Tessa Wallace (who took silver while swimming in lane seven) and Sarah Katsoulis to secure the three-peat – and if the deep breathes she was sucking in after the race were any indication, the 25-year-old had to draw on all her experience and reserves to do so.
In the women’s 100 metres freestyle, Alicia Coutts held off Australian teammate Emily Seebohm as Australia finished with gold and silver, with England’s Fran Halsall forced to content herself with bronze.
Seebohm, who is undertaking a packed programme of eight events Delhi, managed to secure her first gold of the games later in the day, setting a new Commonwealth Games record of 59.79 in the 100 metres backstroke in the process.
England’s Gemma Spofforth claimed silver and Canada’s Julie Wilkinson took home the bronze.
Also on Wednesday, Kenya claimed their first Commonwealth swimming medal in the men’s 50 metres butterfly final, courtesy of Jason Dunford, who snatched gold by .02 of a second ahead of Geoff Huegill to deny the Australian a dream comeback finish.
Huegill, whose weight ballooned after he retired from swimming after the 2004 Olympics, announced his comeback in 2008. He has shed more than 40kg to return to competitive swimming.
England’s James Goddard secured gold in the 200 metres backstroke final with a new Commonwealth Games record, with New Zealand’s Gareth Kean taking silver and Australia’s Ashley Delaney taking bronze.
In the men’s 100 metres breaststroke, South Africa claimed gold thanks to Cameron Van der Burgh, with Australia taking silver and bronze in the event.
Bronte Barratt, Kylie Palmer, Meagan Nay and Blair Evans added to the Australian gold rush in the 4x200 metres women’s relay; the Aussie quartet dominating the final to claim a new Commonwealth Games record (7.53.71) and a convincing win over silver medallists New Zealand and bronze medallists England.
Australia's men's 4x200m freestyle relay team of Thomas Fraser-Holmes, Nicholas Ffrost, Ryan Napoleon and Kenrick Monk also won gold in the final of that event, with Scotland and South Africa taking home the silver and bronze.
Tags: