Commonwealth Games: Australia Dominates Mixed 400 Free Relay

Commonwealth Games, Day Two Finals: Australia Dominates Mixed 400 Free Relay in Games-Record Time

It got here as no shock in any respect to see Australia dominating the Saturday night finale on the Commonwealth Games, the combined 400 freestyle relay. After all, Australia had simply taken care of enterprise within the ladies’s and males’s relays in the future earlier after successful world titles in each occasions final 12 months. While Mollie O’Callaghan didn’t take part on this occasion after successful gold within the 200 free earlier within the night time, the Dolphins nonetheless had loads of star expertise to deploy.

Flynn Southam went first, in the future after blistering a 47.09 leadoff within the males’s relay. Aiming to match or higher that point, Southam got here in simply behind at 47.29, however he nonetheless eclipsed the 47.36 that had been the Games report previous to the competitors. Next was veteran Kyle Chalmers, who provided a 47.62 break up to stretch Australia’s result in greater than 1.5 seconds.

Shayna Jack, competing at one remaining Commonwealth Games previous to retirement, went 52.42 on the third leg earlier than Meg Harris anchored in 52.03. The end result was a convincing victory, the time of three:19.36 crushing the Games report of three:21.12 set by Australia 4 years in the past and coming inside a second of the world report (3:18.48) set by the United States final 12 months. All 4 swimmers earned their second gold medals of the competitors, with particular person medal possibilities to come back afterward.

Behind the Australians, a decent battle developed for the 2 remaining podium spots. Matt Richards put Wales in competition with a robust 47.62 leadoff leg, however probably the most balanced effort belonged to England, whose staff of Jacob Mills, Jacob Whittle, Freya Anderson and Freya Colbert positioned second in 3:23.91. The Welsh staff, which additionally included Dan Jones, Bex Sutton and Theodora Taylor, secured bronze in 3:24.33.

Taylor’s anchor leg of 52.63 denied New Zealand, anchored by Erika Fairweather, by a half-second. Further down within the subject was Scotland, with Duncan Scott supplying a 47.66 second leg for the perfect non-Australian males’s efficiency within the race.