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Australia leads medal table

Jul 27, 2014
Emily Seebohm celebrates her record breaking win in the Women's 100m Backstroke final

Emily Seebohm celebrates her record breaking win in the Women's 100m Backstroke final

Australia have taken the lead from England in what’s becoming an absorbing medal table battle at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

At the end of day three, Australia have 18 gold medals to lead from England who have 17.

Australia picked up seven golds on Saturday.

Four of them came in the pool through Emily Seebohm, Taylor McKeown, the women’s 4x200m relay team and Para swimmer Daniel Fox.

Annette Edmonson and Scott Sunderland added gold in track cycling while shooter Daniel Repacholi had the other.

It was a dream Commonwealth Games debut for Emma McKeon but veteran Alicia Coutts can’t wake up from her nightmare despite adding to Australia’s gold tally at the Glasgow pool on Saturday night.

Rookie McKeon, 20, claimed her third gold and fourth medal at Glasgow by chiming into Australia’s record-breaking 4x200m freestyle relay win.

But her out-of-sorts teammate Coutts cut a dejected figure even though her second relay gold at Glasgow boosted her total to a remarkable seven gold from two Games.

McKeon, Coutts, Brittany Elmslie and Bronte Barratt capped day three pool action by clocking a Games record seven minutes, 49.90 seconds ahead of Canada (7:51.67) and England (7:52.45).

It ensured Australia’s swimmers nabbed four gold for a second straight night, along with three silver and two bronze.

Emily Seebohm (100m backstroke), Taylor McKeown (200m breaststroke), Daniel Fox (para-sport S14 200m freestyle) contributed the others.

World 100m freestyle champion Cate Campbell (50m freestyle), Grant Irvine (200m butterfly) and Sally Hunter (200m breaststroke) took silver and there was bronze to Belinda Hocking (100m backstroke) and Bronte Campbell (50m freestyle).

There appears to be a changing of the guard at the pool as Coutts wonders what might have been while McKeon dares to dream of what’s to come.

McKeon, 20, overcame her nerves to lead off in a relay for the first time, clocking 1:56.01 to give Australia a body length lead.

But Coutts struggled in the second, clocking a time almost three seconds slower than McKeon (1:59.34) to give up a handy lead.

Coutts was the star of the Delhi Games, winning five gold.

But she was aware she was in danger of the team’s Glasgow flop after also bombing out in the 100m butterfly, finishing fourth.

Coutts said the only explanation she could come up with was a virus that struck her down at a pre-Games Manchester camp.

“I just tried to do the best I could (in the relay) but that last 50m I thought I was going to pass out,” said Coutts, who also collected Glasgow gold as a heat swimmer in Australia’s record breaking 4x100m freestyle relay win.

“It’s been a very tough week for me.

“I am not used to having an off meet, it is a different experience for me.

“You just have to learn from it and become a stronger person.”

But McKeon did not want the meet to end after adding 4x200m relay win to gold collected in the 200m freestyle and 4x100m relay.

She also nabbed a surprise 100m butterfly bronze.

“I never thought I would have four medals (at this stage of the meet) – I am still a bit shocked about my butterfly medal,” said McKeon who still has the medley relay and 100m freestyle to come.

Australia have now won the women’s 4x200m relay event at three straight Games.

Earlier, world champion James Magnussen set up a blockbuster 100m freestyle final showdown with national title holder Cameron McEvoy.

Magnussen clocked 48.21 to be quickest qualifier for Sunday night’s decider ahead of McEvoy (48.60).

Seebohm overcame the disappointment of being relegated to silver at the 2012 Olympics and last year’s world titles to defend her Commonwealth title in a Games record 59.37 ahead of third placed Hocking (59.93).

“It’s been a tough four years. There’s been so many challenges thrown at me,” Seebohm said.

“But I am over the moon to have held onto this and now I look forward trying again at the Gold Coast (in 2018).”

Games rookie McKeown, 19, claimed 200m breaststroke gold in 2:22.36 ahead of compatriot Hunter (2:23.33 PB).

But Cate Campbell (24.00) was denied 50m freestyle gold – although England’s Fran Halsall (23.96) needed to clock the fastest time in the world this year and a Games record to do it.

Her sister Bronte Campbell (24.20 PB) claimed bronze.

COMM GAMES 14 SWIMMING FINALS

Gold medalists (left to right) Alicia Coutts, Emma McKeon, Brittany Elmslie and Bronte Barratt show off their medals for the Women’s 4x200m Freestyle

In cycling, the kangaroo keeps bounding ahead, the lion seems tame and the speedy kiwi is pecking at everyone’s heels.

Australia won two more gold medals in track cycling, taking their haul to five at the top of the medal tally.

Annette Edmondson won the 10km scratch race and Scott Sunderland took out the 1km time trial.

Australia are also guaranteed at least one more gold medal on Sunday, because Anna Meares will ride off against rising star Stephanie Morton in the women’s sprint final.

Australia’s strong form, plus New Zealand’s impressive performances and a collective below-par showing from the UK nations prompt questions about track cycling’s balance of power two years from the Rio Olympics.

England won no medals in Saturday’s four events, while New Zealand are second on the medal tally with three gold.

Great Britain have dominated cycling at the last two Olympics and it is folly to write them off.

But they have work to do.

Sunderland’s work is to become a team pursuit rider by Rio.

On Saturday he briefly returned to his sprint roots and broke his own Games record to win the kilo again.

He scorched home after a slow start to win in one minute 0.675 seconds, beating New Zealanders Simon van Velthooven (1:01.060) and Matthew Archibald (1:01.162).

Sunderland then wrapped national endurance coach Tim Decker in a massive bear hug.

“In the short period we’ve been together, we’ve just clicked,” Sunderland said.

“So to get that result … you know there was a lot of umming and ahhing about whether I should change from a sprint background to endurance.

“It’s a good sign of what’s to come.”

Edmondson capped an outstanding Australian team effort in the scratch race, with Amy Cure winning silver and Melissa Hoskins helping set them up for the sprint finish.

“We had such a good team, such a good combination of riders,” Edmondson said.

“If it came to a bunch sprint they backed me up, which was awesome.”

Australian pair Kieran Modra and Jason Niblett and compatriots Paul Kennedy and Thomas Clarke took bronze in the men’s para cycling sprint behind Scottish stars Neil Fachie and Craig MacLean.

But Jack Bobridge, Glenn O’Shea and Miles Scotson were surprisingly quiet in a frenetic and controversial men’s points race.

New Zealanders Tom Scully and Aaron Gate won gold and silver either side of Peter Kennaugh, who won Isle Of Man’s 11th Games medal.

But two of Kennaugh’s teammates were disqualified for collusion and there was plenty of finger-pointing between the New Zealand and Isle Of Man camps over race tactics.
The netball court has arrived as the newest Ashes battlefield in an intense contest for Commonwealth Games supremacy.

COMM GAMES 14 NETBALL

Caitlin Bassett

Australia knocked England off the top of the Games medal table yesterday, but the greatest example of the countries’ rivalry wasn’t in a final, but in a fiercely contested netball pool game.

After trailing for most of the game and staring at a four point deficit early in the last quarter, the world champion Australians clawed their way back to land the winning goal with 15 seconds left.

The 49-48 result left the English in tears, Australia relieved they’ll likely avoid a semi against New Zealand and a genuine new addition to the Anglo-Australian sporting rivalry.
How the Aussies fared on Saturday.

Aquatics: Swimming (Tollcross International Swimming Centre)

Men’s 200m Butterfly, Heats: Grant Irvine 5th, Mitchell Pratt 3rd, Daniel Tranter 2nd. All qualified for final.

Men’s Para-Sport 200m Freestyle S14, Heats: Daniel Fox 1st, Mitchell Kilduff 2nd, Joshua Alford 5th. All qualified for final.

Women’s 200m Breaststroke, Heats: Taylor McKeown 1st, Sally Hunter 2nd, Tessa Wallace 2nd in respective heats. All qualified for final.

Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay, Heats: Australia qualified 1st in second heat.

Men’s 50m Backstroke, Heats: Josh Beaver 1st, Mitch Larkin 2nd, Ben Treffers 2nd in heats and made semi-finals.

Women’s 50m Butterfly, Heats: Maddie Groves 3rd, Brittany Elmslie 1st, Alicia Coutts 2nd in heats and made semi-finals.

Men’s 100m Freestyle, Heats: James Magnussen 1st, Cameron McEvoy 1st, Tommaso D’Orsogna 3rd in respective heats and made semi-finals.

Men’s 200m Butterfly, Final: Grant Irvine 2nd, Mitchell Pratt 5th, Daniel Tranter 6th.

Women’s 50m Freestyle, Final: Cate Campbell 2nd, Bronte Campbell 3rd, Melanie Schlanger 5th.

Men’s Para-Sport 200m Freestyle S14, Final: Daniel Fox 1st, Mitchell Kilduff 4th, Joshua Alford 6th.

Women’s 200m Breaststroke, Final: Taylor McKeown 1st, Sally Hunter 2nd, Tessa Wallace 8th.

Women’s 100m Backstroke, Final: Emily Seebohm 1st, Belinda Hocking 3rd

Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay, Final: Australia 1st.

Men’s 50m Backstroke, Semi-Finals: Josh Beaver 2nd in first semi-final, Mitch Larkin 4th and Ben Treffers 1st in second semi-final.

Women’s 50m Butterfly, Semi-Finals: Maddie Groves 5th, Brittany Elmslie 1st, Alicia Coutts 4th in respective heats.

Men’s 100m Freestyle, Semi-Finals: James Magnussen 1st, Cameron McEvoy 1st, Tommaso D’Orsogna 2nd. All through to final.
Badminton (Emirates Arena):
Mixed Teams, Quarter-Finals: Australia lost to Singapore 3-0.
Boxing (Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre Precinct):
Light (60kg), Light Welter (64kg), Preliminaries: Nick Cooney (60kg) won.
Men’s Light Fly (49kg), Middle (75kg), Preliminaries: Mark Lucas (75kg) won.
Cycling: Track (Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome)
Men’s Para-Sport Sprint B Tandem, Qualification: Paul Kennedy and Thomas Clarke 4th, Kieran Modra and Jason Niblett 1st.

Men’s 40km Points Race, Qualification: Miles Scotston 7th, Jack Bobridge 3rd, Glenn O’Shea 10th in respective heats.

Women’s Sprint, Qualification, Quarter-Finals: Anna Meares qualified 2nd; 1st quarter-final, Stephanie Morton qualified 1st; 1st in quarter-final.
Men’s Para-Sport Sprint B Tandem, Final: Paul Kennedy and Thomas Clarke 3rd, Kieran Modra and Jason Niblett 2nd.

Men’s 1000m Time Trial, Final: Scott Sunderland 1st

Men’s 40km Points Race, Final: Glenn O’Shea 7th, Miles Scotston 12th, Jack Bobridge 6th.

Women’s Sprint, Semi-Finals: Anna Meares, Stephanie Morton both won their semi-finals and made final.

Women’s 10km Scratch Race, Final: Amy Cure 2nd, Annette Edmondson 1st, Melissa Hoskins 15th.
Hockey (Glasgow National Hockey Centre):
Men’s Australia v Wales preliminary match: Australia won 7-1.
Judo (Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre Precinct):
Men’s -90kg, -100kg, +100kg, Preliminaries, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Repechage: Mark Anthony (90kg) won round of 16, quarter-final, lost semi-final and went through to bronze medal match; Duke Didier (100kg) lost quarter-final, won repechage and went through to bronze medal match; Jake Andrewartha (+100kg) lost semi-final and went through to bronze medal match.
Men’s -90kg, -100kg, +100kg, Gold and Bronze medal contests: if qualified, Mark Anthony (90kg) lost, Dude Didier (100kg) lost, Jake Andrewartha (+100kg) 3rd

 

Lawn Bowls (Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre):
Men’s Pairs Round 5, Preliminaries, (Australia v Namibia): Australia won.

Men’s Triples Round 5, Preliminaries (Australia v Malaysia): Australia won.

Women’s Singles Round 5, Preliminaries: Kelsey Cottrell won but did not make enough points to go through to quarter-finals.

Women’s Fours Round 5, Preliminaries (Scotland v Australia): Australia lost.

Mixed Para-Sport Mixed Pairs B2/B3 Round, Bronze medal matches (Australia v New Zealand): Joy Forster, Bruce Jones, Peter and Tony Scott 3rd .
Men’s Pairs, Quarter-Finals: Australia lost.

Men’s Triples, Quarter-Finals: Australia won through to semi-finals.

 

Netball (Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre Precinct):
Australia v England preliminary match: Australia won 49-48.
Rugby Sevens (Ibrox Stadium):
Rugby Sevens Preliminary Pool D Match 1 Australia vs Sri Lanka: Australia won 55-50.
Rugby Sevens Preliminary Pool D Match 2 Australia vs Uganda: Australia won 43-5.
Rugby Sevens Preliminary Pool D Match 6 England vs Australia: Australia won-15-7.
Shooting (Barry Buddon Shooting Centre, Carnoustie)
Men’s Skeet, Qualification, Semi-Finals and Final: Paul Adams (Skeet) qualified 2nd and came 6th in semi-finals, Keith Ferguson (Skeet) 9th in qualification.

Men’s 10m Air Pistol, Qualification and Final: Blake Blackburn (10m Air Pistol) 14th and did not make final, Daniel Repacholi (10m Air Pistol) qualified 1st; 1st in final.

Women’s 10m Air Rifle, Qualification: Emma Adams (10m Air Rifle) 14th, Jennifer Hens (10m Air Rifle) 12th and did not make final.

Women’s 25m Pistol (Precision) Qualification, Women’s 25m Pistol Semi-Finals and Final: Lalita Yauleuskaya qualified 3rd and finished 4th, Hayley Chapman 11th and did not qualify.

Open Queen’s Prize Pairs: Geoff Grenfell, James Corbett 4th.
Squash (Scotstoun Sports Campus):
Men’s Singles, Quarter-Finals: Cameron Pilley lost.
Table Tennis (Scotstoun Sports Campus):
Women’s Team, Quarter-Final (Australia v Wales): Australia won 3-0.

Men’s Team, Quarter-Finals (Australia v Nigeria): Australia lost 2-3.
Women’s Team Semi-Finals (Australia v Malaysia): Australia lost 1-3.
Triathlon (Strathclyde Country Park):
Mixed Team Relay, Final: Australia 3rd
Weightlifting (Clyde Auditorium):
Women’s 58kg Group A, Final: Seen Lee (58kg) 6th.

 

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