Commonwealth Games: Siobhan-Marie O'Connor qualifies for 200m freestyle final and 100m butterfly semis
By Sam Drury
Last Updated: 24/07/14 1:05pm
Siobhan-Marie O’Connor qualified second fastest as she won her 200m freestyle heat on the opening morning of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The 18-year-old England swimmer set a new Commonwealth Games record time of 1:56.58, only for the record to be beaten by 0.01 seconds in the very next heat by Australian Emma McKeon.
O’Connor led from the start in heat three, knowing she had to be within the top eight fastest times across the four heats to qualify for tonight’s final, and although the field appeared to be closing on her in the final 50m the victory was never in doubt.
Her closest challenger, New Zealand's Lauren Boyle, touched home half-a-length behind O'Connor in 1:56.82, with the remaining swimmers trailing by some distance.
The Bath athlete is also through to the 100m butterfly semi-finals having finished second in her heat behind Australia Alicia Coutts with McKeon in third.
Her time of 58.24s was the third quickest of the heats and should ensure she gets a favourable lane draw for the semi-final.
O'Connor returns to the Tollcross pool this evening for the 200m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay finals as well as the 100m butterfly semi-final.
