Rachael Kelly reaches Universiade podium with 100m Fly bronze

Rachael Kelly landed Great Britain’s third swimming medal of the 2017 Universiade in Taiwan with bronze in the 100m Butterfly.

The Loughborough University swimmer came home third in a blanket finish, touching in 58.90.

Just 0.17 seconds separated the top four at the wall in the final. USA’s Hellen Moffitt ultimately took gold on 58.75 ahead of Italy’s Elena Di Liddo (58.81).

Kelly was just 0.15 seconds off the top spot, holding off the Netherlands’ fast-finishing Kinge Zandringa (58.92) in fourth.

The English swimmer was consistent with her efforts in Taiwan, setting 59.06 to win her heat, then 58.93 to touch second in her semi.

Her season’s best 58.41 to win bronze at this year’s British Championships remains at the helm of the 2017 English rankings.

Really happy to come away with a medal

“I’m really happy to come away with a medal,” said Kelly, who was a finalist in the 100m Fly at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“The time isn’t quite what I wanted but I got a medal so I’m pretty happy.

“My tactics were to relax on the first 50m which I did. I went out pretty good. It was a bit unfortunate that I couldn’t back it up with the second 50m but I went a bit quicker than my semi so I progressed through my heats so that was good.”

Lelliott and Jackson also in finals action

Jay Lelliott competed in his third final of the competition, finishing fifth in the 800m Freestyle.

The Bath University swimmer, who won 400m Freestyle silver on the opening night, stopped the clock on 7:55.36.

England’s Jessica Jackson came away with another fourth place in a relay as she competed with the 4x200m Free quartet.

Jackson swam the third leg for GB, teaming up with Wales’ Kathryn Greenslade and Scottish pair Camilla Hattersley and Lucy Hope.

The British quartet clocked 8:00.93, coming home just 1.34 seconds behind bronze medallists Japan.

Image credit: British Swimming

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