Commonwealth Games: Kyle Chalmers strong in 100m freestyle heats

THE King Kyle show rolls on at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, with Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers qualifying fastest for the semi-finals of the 100m freestyle from this morning’s heats.

THE King Kyle show rolls on at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, with Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers qualifying fastest for the semi-finals of the 100m freestyle from this morning’s heats at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.

Chalmers led all qualifiers in 48.81 sec, winning the final heat to snare lane four in tonight’s second semi-final and position himself for a third gold at these Games.

Brisbane sprinter Jack Cartwright is second-fastest in 48.85 after swimming over South African Chad le Clos in the second 50m to win his heat, but the news was not as good for Gold Coaster Cameron McEvoy.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA — APRIL 07: Kyle Chalmers of Australia prepares ahead of the Men's 100m Freestyle — Heat 8 on day three of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Optus Aquatic Centre on April 7, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

"He might be one of the best 🇦🇺 racers we've ever seen!"

Kyle Chalmers you FREAK.#7CommGames #GC2018Swimming #ShareTheDream pic.twitter.com/wnnVoBq0gc

— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) April 7, 2018

While McEvoy qualified eighth for the semis in 49.20, he looked a shadow of the man that set the fastest time in history in a textile suit.

Chalmers though, continues to show he is one of the best racers in the sport.

The South Australian used his signature fast finish to get over the top of Dylan Carter, from Trinidad and Tobago, and Scotland’s Duncan Scott to and ensure he qualified well for the semis.

“That was the plan this morning, to get my hand on the wall first,” Chalmers said.

“I was in a way better position heat-wise this morning because I could see how the earlier heats went.

“I knew I had a couple of fast boys in my heat and I knew if I could get my hand on the wall I would be in a good position for the semi-final tonight.”

Cameron McEvoy seemed flat in his heat of the Men's 100m Freestyle.

Cartwright said he could not match the withering start or underwater skills of le Clos but was confident of matching him in the back end of the race.

“It was a good race,” Cartwright said.

“I don’t know, I just had to get into the semi, just win the heat, that was the main goal.”

McEvoy seemed subdued after his heat swim but is determined to reset ahead of the semis and book a place in the final in front of his home crowd.

The Bond University squad member mistimed his taper slightly at last month’s trials and again seems to be searching for speed compared to Chalmers and Cartwright.

But he was determined to turn things around tonight.

“It is just a heat. Sixteen go through to the semi,” he said.

“So I guess we just had to do what we needed to do to get through.

“I’m pretty confident 49.20 will get me through.

“I will take it up again tonight, see how we go, have a rest in the morning and then do it again tomorrow.”

Cate Campbell gets off the blocks to start her heat of the Womens 50m Butterfly.

In other events, Madeline Groves was fastest qualifier for the 50m butterfly, just ahead of Cate Campbell and Canada’s Penny Oleksiak.

“It’s still just the fun event, I haven’t really focused on it,” said Campbell, who will also race the 50m freestyle final tonight.

“I switch from 50m freestyle to 50m butterfly (at training) sometimes but that’s all.

“Make no mistake, every time I get out here I give it my all.”

Taylor McKeown is second-fastest qualifier for the 200m breaststroke, with Tessa Wallace sixth best, while David Morgan and Grant Irvine both qualified for the 200m butterfly final.

“I seem to have done the job,” McKeown said.

“If you have a lane, you have a chance.

“It was a solid swim but I’m sure I can work on a couple of the turns, I’m sure (coach) Chris (Mooney) will rip in.

“I left a little bit in (the tank) for tonight.”

Zac Incerti, Mitch Larkin and Ben Treffers have all sealed places in the 50m backstroke semis, with Gold Coaster Treffers looking to defend his Commonwealth Games title.

Timothy Diskin will head into tonight’s SB8 100m breaststroke final looking to snare another gold after winning the 100m freestyle last night, while Paige Leonhardt faces a battle in the SM10 200m medley against New Zealand’s Sophie Pascoe and Canadian champion Aurelie Rivard.

Originally published as Commonwealth Games: Kyle Chalmers strong in 100m freestyle heats