GOLD COAST - It was another good morning session in the pool for South Africa at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, on Monday.
Brad Tandy flew off the blocks and powered down the lane to win his heat in 21.78, just 0.02 seconds off Ben Proud’s Games record. But Proud responded with a new Games record of 21.45. Tandy is second fastest going into the semi-finals. Ryan Coetzee has pulled out of the event.
In the men’s 200m backstroke heats, Martin Binedell won his heat in 1:57.92, faster than his entry time of 1:58.20, to qualify for the final as the top seed. Lying in wait is a trio of Australians.
Jarryd Baxter finished fourth in his heat in 2:02.17, which left him 13th overall and missing out on the final. Luan Grobbelaar finished sixth in his heat with a 2:06.10, for 18th overall and failing to progress to the final.
In the men’s S7 freestyle heat, Christiaan Sadie is eyeing a medal after qualifying second fastest in the heat and all six swimmers will do it again on Monday evening. Sadie touched in 29.54, behind Australia’s Matthew Levy 28.68. The world record is 28.57.
In the women’s 50m backstroke heats, Erin Gallagher has had a memorable Games so far and already booked her place in two finals. She progressed again to the semi-finals with a 29.38 swim, but ranked 15 on the timesheets and she withdrew, to conserve energy, given she wouldn’t have expected to reach the final. Mariella Venter, with a 29.88 in the heats, qualified 17th overall to be a reserve for the semis, and gained an evening swim when Gallagher withdrew.
Happy with my races so far.
50 Breast Finals & 50 Free Semi Finals Tonight! 💪🏼🇿🇦 #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/YhqfajcQzq
— Bradley Tandy (@bradtandy02) April 9, 2018
In the women’s 200m butterfly heats, Duné Coetzee, 15, and in her first major senior championships, clocked a 2:12.30 for fifth in her race, which was essentially a semi-final. That left her 11th overall and she missed out on the final.
The support this week has been incredible, final individual swim tonight 10pm local time, much love 🙏🇿🇦💪💦
— Chad Le Clos (@chadleclos) April 9, 2018