Wales’ Georgia Davies Through To Final. . . But Tough Test To Come

Georgia Davies is through to the Commonwealth Games 100 metre backstroke final, but she faces a massive challenge to get among the medals once again after seeing the Games record broken twice in the heats.

Davies, who struck gold in the 50 metre backstroke in Glasgow, was the silver medallist in the event in 2014, but could only manage third place in the fourth and final heat. Having seen Australia’s 2010 and 2014 champion Emily Seebohm crack her own Games record with 58:91 sec to win the third heat, Davies was then drawn with the world record holder from Canada, Kylie Masse.

Seebohm’s time obviously served as a red rag to Masse, who threw down the gauntlet to her biggest rival for gold with another brilliant swim to lower the record even further to 58:70 sec – 0.6 sec off her world record.

England’s Lizzie Simmonds was second behind Masse in 60:49 sec, with Davies third in 60:57. In the semi-finals Davies was drawn against Seebohm and another super-fast Canadian, Taylor Ruck.

The home star won in 58:95 with Ruck taking second in 60:06 sec and Davies finishing third in an improved time of 60:33 sec. In the other semi-final, Masse lowered the Games record once again with another rapid swim as she won in 58:66 sec.

Davies will go into the final as the fifth fastest from the semis and facing a huge battle for a medal. Australian duo Kaylee McKeown (60:11) and Hayley Baker (60:63), Canada’s Jade Hannah (60:37) and Simmons (60:67) also made it through to what looks like being one of the hottest finals of the day at Gold Coast.

Beth Sloan and Chloe Tutton are both drawn in the second of three heats in the 200 metres breaststroke on 7 April, while Wales flag bearer at the opening ceremony, Jazz Carlin, will open her defence of the 800 metre freestyle title on 8 April in the second heat.

That will be Carlin’s first chance to assess the talent of her teenage Aussie rival, Arianne Titmus. Known as ‘The Terminator’, the 17-year-old has already picked up a silver medal in the 200 metres event and has a season’s best of 8:20.08.

Carlin will be joined in her heat by Ellena Jones and will also have Scotland’s Hannah Miley and another top class Aussie, Kiah Melverton, to contend with.