Commonwealth Games 2010: England and Australia set for first medal clash

After an exhilarating Opening Ceremony last night, it was down to sporting business this morning as Jo Jackson led the bid for England’s first medal of the Commonwealth Games in the pool after qualifying fourth-fastest behind a trio of Australians in the 200m freestyle heats at the SPM Aquatics complex.

Jackson, the 400m world silver medallist, finished second in her heat behind Kylie Palmer in 1:59.33secs while Wales’ Jaz Carlin and Rebecca Adlington qualified fifth and sixth respectively for the final, which will begin at 11:30am.

The three Australians – Palmer, Blair Evans and Lauren Boyle – share the top placings in the Commonwealth this year but the three Britons behind them will spearhead the likely bun fight for medals in the six-day long meeting's first final.

however Caitlin McClatchey, Scotland’s reigning Commonwealth champion, failed to make the final after placing a disappointing 17th in the heats.

Meanwhile, Emily Seebohm, who is gunning for a Michael Phelps-like eight gold medals this week, qualified fastest for this morning’s other eagerly-anticipated event, the 50m butterfly, which will also set the tone for the England-Australia clashes over the shorter distances.

Seebohm, 18, won her fly heat in 26.52secs with England’s Fran Halsall in third, 0.16secs behind the Australian. Yolane Kukla, Australia’s 15 year-old rising star, finished fourth while six other Britons qualified for the semi-finals later this morning.

Hannah Miley, who performed so well at this summer’s European Championships, finished ahead of Seebohm in the 200 individual medley heats and will be a favourite to land gold in this morning’s other final.

The Inverurie swimmer finished behind Alicia Coutts, of Australia, but only by 0.22secs.

Liam Tancock, the world champion, easily won his 50m backstroke heat while Kate Haywood will lead England’s breaststroke bid after qualifying third for the semi-final.

England face a tougher test in the 200m butterfly final, however. Joe Roebuck, Michael Rock – who beat Phelps in the Duel in the Pool in December – and Robbie Pavoni all qualified to take the last three berths before this morning’s final individual race
.