GOLD COAST – Chad le Clos safely moved through his first heat in the men’s 50m butterfly at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games on Thursday.
Le Clos finished second in his heat to gold medal favourite Ben Proud, but the Englishman was disqualified. That left Le Clos, with a 23.53 seconds, the fastest qualifier headed into the semi-finals.
Ryan Coetzee was the first to dip under 24 when he won his heat in 23.94. That placed him third overall heading into the semi-finals.
Brad Tandy finished third behind Coetzee in his heat in 24.41, which placed him 10th fastest overall to qualify for the semi-finals.
In the women’s 50m breaststroke Tatjana Schoenmaker finished second in her heat, in 30.92, which was an African record, and shaved 0.52 seconds off her entry time. She qualified third fastest into the semi-finals.
Kaylene Corbett finished sixth in her heat in 32.51, for 17th overall. Emile Visagie finished seventh in her heat, in 32.73, for 18th overall.
In the women’s 100m butterfly, Erin Gallagher finished third in her heat in 59.25, with Dune Coetzee seventh in the same race in 1:02.03. Gallagher qualified for the semi-finals, eighth fastest, while Coetzee finished 17th and was eliminated.
In the men’s 100m backstroke, Martin Binedell finished fourth in his heat in 56.37. That left him 12th fastest overall and qualified him for the semi-finals.
Calvyn Justus finished fourth in his heat in 55.69, which left in 10th fastest overall which secured him safe passage to the semis.
In the men’s 200m breaststroke, Ayrton Sweeney finished fourth in his heat in 2:13.27, for ninth overall and missed the final.