After winning silver in 50m race, Jamaica's Alia Atlinson books spot in 200m breaststroke, other swimmers move forward

Saturday, July 26, 2014 | 8:26 AM    

GLASGOW, Scotland --- Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson, fresh from her silver medal performance in the 50-metre breaststroke at the Tollcross Swimming Centre at the XX Commonwealth Games here on Friday, is in with a shot for the elusive gold medal Saturday evening.

Alia Atkinson

Atkinson, who won Jamaica’s first medal at these games, has booked a spot in the final set for 7:36 pm (1:36 pm Jamaica time), even though she finished fourth in her heat of the women’s 200m breaststroke. She earned her spot with the eighth best time across the heats. She did 2:28.33 minutes in a race won by Australia’s Taylor McKeown in 2:26.38.

In the final, the Jamaican will match with Scotland's Hannah Miley, Canada's Martha McCabe, Australia'sTaylor McKeown, Kierra Smith of Canada, England's Molly Renshaw and Australia's Sally Hunter and Tessa Wallace.

But there were preliminary wins for other Jamaicans. Trudiann Patrick topped the field in the women’s 50m butterfly in 28.76 seconds and has advanced to the semi-finals later Saturday at 8:00 pm (2:00 pm Jamaica time).

Jevon Atkinson won heat one of the men’s 100m freestyle in 52.03 seconds to progress, but Dominic Walter finished last in the men’s 200m butterfly and was eliminated. more