Halsall pips Campbell sisters for 50m freestyle gold

GLASGOW: England´s Fran Halsall claimed her second Commonwealth Games gold medal as she edged out Australian sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell in the women´s 50m freestyle on Saturday.

Halsall broke her own Commonwealth Games record time from Friday´s semi-finals to edge out Cate Campbell by four hundredths of a second in 23:96sec with Bronte Campbell back in third.

The 24-year-old Halsall rounded off a fine evening by breaking a second Commonwealth Games record in qualifying fastest for the 50m butterfly final.

"It´s been a fairytale evening for me tonight," she said. "To set a best time in the 50m freestyle and then another one in the fly. I can´t ask for more than two best times in one evening, especially with how special the crowd were in really supporting me.

"It has been an amazing evening that I will remember for a very long time."Cate Campbell lauded her adversary as a world class sprinter.

"I knew that Fran would come out screaming. She is incredible, she has proved herself as one of the best 50m freestylers in the world for many years and tonight she has just consolidated that so I am absolutely thrilled for her."

Bronte Campbell, meanwhile, was just delighted to be on the podium after qualifying just fifth fastest."I can´t believe I managed to get my hand on the wall and get that third spot." (AFP)