Day 4 heats set up exciting finals session on the Gold Coast

Five of Team England’s swimming gold medallists were back in competition today in the day four heats at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Breaststroke champions James Wilby and Adam Peaty secured semi-final places in the 50m event.

Wilby, who won the 200m gold and 100m silver, finished in the fifth fastest time of the heats in 27.58. World record holder and 100m champion, Peaty, came out of his heat, and overall, with the quickest time in 26.98. Their semi-finals will take place today at 11.30am BST.

Fellow breaststroke medallists Sarah Vasey (50m) and Molly Renshaw (200m) competed in the 100m heats. Vasey came in eighth fastest in 1:08.95 and Renshaw tenth in 1:09.40.  Jocelyn Ulyett also progressed to the semis in fourteenth in 1:09.74.

Three to battle it out in the Individual Medley

Aimee Wilmott, who won gold on the first night in the 400m Individual Medley, was back in the pool in the 200m IM, qualifying for tonight’s final in the fifth fastest time in 2:13.38. Teammate and games record holder, Siobhan Marie O’Connor, completed the heats in the fastest time in 2:11.31, with 19-year old Abbie Wood qualifying fourth in 2:12.85.

Alice Tai, who claimed England’s 100th ever gold medal in the pool on day 2, was in action in the Women’s S9 100m Freestyle. Tai finished fourth in her heat in 1:06.88.

Bath’s Jessica Fullalove qualified fourth fastest in the 200m Backstroke event in 2:11.51. She will be joined in tonight’s final by University of Edinburgh’s Lizzie Simmonds who finished sixth overall in 2:12.12. Chloe Golding missed out on a place in the final by the narrowest of margins, coming in ninth overall in 2:13.05. The final will be the first event of the evening session, kicking off at 10.37am BST.

Guy eases into semi-final

James Guy returned to the pool after being ruled out of the 200m Butterfly final yesterday. He eased through into tonight’s 100m semi-finals fastest in 53.16, with Jacob Peters progressing in 53.72.

Three of England’s young talent also qualified for the 100 Freestyle semi-finals. Freya Anderson posted a 55.12 to go through, with Anna Hopkin clocking 55.21 and Jess Jackson 55.85.

In the final event of the morning session, Stockport’s Holly Hibbott, fresh from her role in the bronze medal winning 4 x 200m Relay last night, came in third in her 800m Freestyle heat. Qualifying fifth in 8:39.57.

Eight golds will be up for grabs in the finals session, starting just after 10.30am BST.