Commonwealth Games: James Roberts powers home, Mack Horton flops

JAMES Roberts’ decision to push his battered body through another preparation has been rewarded, with the Gold Coast product to line up at a home Commonwealth Games.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA — MARCH 03: James Roberts celebrates after winning the final of the Men's 50m Freestyle event during the 2018 Australia Swimming National Trials at the Optus Aquatic Centre on March 3, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

JAMES Roberts’ decision to push his battered body through another preparation has been rewarded, with the Gold Coast product to line up at a home Commonwealth Games.

Roberts won the 50m freestyle from a crack field, beating sprint kings Cameron McEvoy and James Magnussen to the wall, with Magnussen also winning an individual Games swim.

A dual Olympian and three-time world championship representative, Roberts — nicknamed the Rocket after he burst to prominence alongside ‘The Missile’ Magnussen — had never made a Commonwealth Games team before Saturday night.

“It means so much,” Roberts said of sealing his place on the team.

“It’s been a long road back here and to pull that off tonight and swim in front of all my family and friends on the Gold Coast is going to be amazing.”

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“Oh, mate, [this] means so much.”

-James Roberts, national men's 50m freestyle champ.#7CommGames pic.twitter.com/ogti1fn2OY

— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) March 3, 2018

It’s been a long road to glory for Roberts, who returned to the Gold Coast to link with Olympic gold medallist Ash Callus at Somerset College after undergoing reconstructions to both shoulders and battling back issues.

“(Making it to) Rio was really a bonus for me, the whole time in the back of my mind, (my focus was) this,” he said.

“I thought I could retire after Rio but once I found out the Gold Coast was hosting the Commonwealth Games I knew I had to be a part of it.

“For me, staying motivated hasn’t been hard but it’s been a long, long road and every day in training I’ve been thinking about these Games.”

McEvoy finished second, just failing to win an event this week but sealing Games swims in the 50m and 100m freestyle.

“It’s been a tough week in terms of placings — obviously you want to come up and win but I’ve been not feeling the best in the water this week,” McEvoy said.

“That could be a result of a misfired taper or whatever but the good thing is … I’ve had to step up against arguably some of the best swimmers in the world and still step up and get my spot on the team.

“I’ve been able to do that which is a good to know that I can do that when I’m feeling absolutely horrible in the water technically and physically.”

James Roberts celebrates after winning the final of the Men's 50m Freestyle event during the 2018 Australia Swimming National Trials.

A relieved Magnussen said he couldn’t wait to have a home crowd roaring for him on an Australian team after joking that he felt like a NSW State of Origin outsider on the blocks in Saturday’s 50m.

With the fans roaring for Cam McEvoy, winner James Roberts and Jack Cartwright among six Queenslanders introduced for the eight-man final, the rugby league-loving Magnussen felt the pro-Queensland energy.

“I do like a big crowd. It’s always exciting and I had a few hometown guys in the race with me,” the Port Macquarie-bred Magnussen said with a grin.

“It wasn’t exactly a home crowd (for me). It’s like State of Origin a little bit up in Queensland ... I was running out as (former NSW Origin player) Michael Ennis or something.

“I’m just relieved because I wanted that individual swim and I kinda wasn’t sure where my speed was at after the 100m (where he finished fourth).

“There were no tactics, just give it a red hot crack as I want to do at the Commies.

“I’m sure the crowd will be nice and loud for the Aussies in April.”

Cate Campbell won the women’s 50m freestyle in a Commonwealth record 23.79 ahead of younger sister Bronte (24.22) and clubmate Shayna Jack (24.62).

“I’m really, really thrilled with that, a personal best is not something that comes around that often and to do it in front of a home crowd, the atmosphere is electric out there.

“Behind the blocks I was shaking, so this is just a little taste of what it’s going to be like at Comm Games and it’s going to be awesome.”

Queenslander Jack McLoughlin caused a boilover in the 1500m, beating Mack Horton by almost 15 seconds to win in 14:56.99 in an outstanding solo effort.

Horton was uncharacteristically slow in his pet event, showing he has not fully tapered for this meet in a bid to his peak at the Games in five weeks’ time.

Originally published as Commonwealth Games: James Roberts powers home, Mack Horton flops