Swimming: McLean bronze eases sting of 100m failure

Hannah McLean was elated after earning the bronze in the 200m backstroke. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Delight followed despair for Hannah McLean when she nabbed a bronze medal in a strong penultimate night performance in the pool.

McLean put up a personal best time in the 200m backstroke on her way to third place, and again in finishing fourth in the 50m backstroke before being part of the fourth-placed 4x100m freestyle team, who also established a fresh national record.

In the 200m, the 24-year-old Aucklander worked her way through the field after turning in fifth at 50m.

She finished strongly to clock a personal best 2m 12.47s.

British-born Australian Joanna Fargus won in a Games record 2:10.36s, and England's Melanie Marshall took the silver in 2:10.87s.

McLean was distraught after finishing fourth in the 100m final on Saturday night.

There was a tear last night but this time brought on by a vastly different emotion.

"It took a while to register," she said of turning and peering at the big screen at the far end of the pool to see the result.

"I was just making sure it was a 3 not an 8. It was a relief, because it hurt a huge amount - and elation."

McLean - ranked fourth in the Commonwealth going into the meet - said she knew she needed a strong opening 100m to stay in contact, but had to reserve some petrol for the final 50m.

Teammate Melissa Ingram qualified second fastest but could manage only 2:13.09s to get sixth.

She had qualified in 2:12.34, which would have been good enough for the bronze in the final.

The national record is held by Anna Simcic at 2:10.79s, set 15 years ago.

In the 50m final, McLean missed the bronze by .18s, clocking 28.89s - .01s under her national mark - as the Australians completed another clean sweep, Sophie Edington winning in a Games record-equalling 28.42s.

New Zealand's Liz Coster finished fifth in a disappointing 29.48s.

The relay team of Lauren Boyle, Alison Fitch, Helen Norfolk and McLean recorded 3m 43.49s, .65s behind bronze medallists Canada. Australia threatened the world record for much of the race, before winning in a Games record 3m 36.49s.

"I'm knackered but happy," McLean said after her final race of the night.

"I was struggling to get out of the pool."

Fitch was disqualified for jumping the start of the 50m final. Teammate Nicola Chellingworth was sixth in a personal-best 25.89s.

Australian star Libby Lenton won the race in a Games record 24.61s, heading home compatriots Jodie Henry and Alice Mills for another host 1-2-3 cleanup.