XVIII Commonwealth Games
Melbourne 2006
Scottish Results - Day Three
1 Gold, 2 Silver on Day 3 for Team Scotland
Gregor Tait kicked off the Scottish success on Day 3 of the Commonwealth
Games with an outstanding win in the 200m Backstroke in a new Commonwealth
Record of 1:58.65! Tait lead throughout the race and touched 1.67 ahead of South
African Johannes Du Rand (2:00.32) and New Zealander Cameron Gibson (2:00.32).
Kirsty Balfour headed into the Womens 200m Breaststroke final as the fastest
seed after a British Record-breaking performance in the heats however was beaten
by Australian great Leisel Jones to a silver medal. Leisel finished in a Games
record of 2:20.72 followed by Balfour in another British & Scottish Record time
of 2:24.04, smashing her heat time of 2:26.18. The bronze medal went to South
African Suzann Van Biljon (2:25.39). South Aberdeenshire swimmer Kerry Buchan
also reached the final of this event and finished in 8th place in 2:33.70.
In the Womens 100m Freestyle final the Australian women continued to dominate with a 1-2-3 for Libby Lenton (53.54), Jodie Henry (53.78) & Alice Mills (54.31). Team England swimmer 15-year-old Fran Halsall finished in 4th in a new British Record of 55.40.
Scot Craig Houston swam in the Mens 100m Freestyle semi-finals however just missed out qualification to the final with a 9th placed swim of 50.63.
In the Mens 50m Butterfly final Todd Cooper improved on his own Scottish Record. Cooper finished 6th in a time of 24.05. The race was won by World Record holder Roland Schoeman of South Africa in a time of 23.34. Australians Matthew Welsh and Michael Klim claimed the Silver and Bronze medals.
