Nowacki through to Commonwealth Games final

Jersey’s Filip Nowacki is through to the final of the 100m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The world junior champion, 18, finished second in his semi-final, 0.33 seconds behind world record holder Adam Ramsay-Peaty, having cut the gap at the 50-metre mark in half.

Nowacki says it was special to push his mentor so close in the semi-final:

“He’s definitely inspired me as he’s definitely inspired all the breaststrokers in the counrty and the world,” he told BBC Jersey.

“To race him and not just be a random competitor in the same race, but actually give him a race, is truly special and means a lot to me.”

It ensured that he qualified third-fastest for Saturday’s final at Tollcross, with Australia’s Sam Williamson second-fastest.

Nowacki is aiming to become the first person representing Jersey to win a Commonwealth Games medal since 1990.

Nowacki won his heat on Thursday morning, overtaking South Africa’s Michael Houlie in the final 10 metres to clock a time of 59.93 – 0.21 ahead of Houlie.

Nowacki was the only Jersey swimmer to progress from the heats as Megan Hansford finished fifth in her two heats.

She was 12th fastest in the 200m backstroke in a time of 2:21.44 while she was 37th in the 50m butterfly in 29.21.

Elsewhere, Isaac Dodds was 13th and brother Oscar 16th in the 200m individual medley. Oscar also finished 27th overall in the 50m backstroke in a time of 28.12, four places and 0.63 seconds behind compatriot Isaac Thompson.

Clara Ginnis finished 20th in the 400m freestyle after coming fifth in her heat while Hannah Sterry was 23rd after winning her heat.

Meanwhile, the men’s 4x100m relay team finished 3:30.12 fifth in their heat in a time of 3:30.12, missing out on a place in the final by just over three seconds.

Elsewhere, Jersey bowls pair Sara Douglas and Fiona Archibald beat hosts Scotland on a tie-break in their opening match.

They won the first set 3-2 before being thrashed 10-0 in the second.

But the islanders held their nerve to win the tie-breaker 1-0 and get their Games off to a good start. They will face Malaysia in their second pool game on Friday evening.

But fellow bowler Taylor Greechan was beaten for the second time in as many days as he lost a tie-break to Cook Islands’ Royden Aperau.

Greechan came from two shots down to win the first set 5-4 before losing the second 9-2.

Aperau went on to win the tie-breaker 2-0 to leave debutant Greechan still looking for his first win.