Loughborough College swimmer Sarah Vasey has struck gold on her Commonwealth Games debut.
Vasey beat Games record holder Alia Atkinson to win the women’s 50m breaststroke title in a time of 30.60 seconds.
The medal won by the Loughborough College Sport degree student at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre on day two of competition follows alumna Sophie Thornhill’s gold in yesterday’s B&VI sprint at the velodrome.
Sarah said: "I just wanted to join the gold rush that went on last night from the English team. Watching it in the stands was what got me going, we got four golds last night, two bronze, I just wanted to be a part of it as well.
"I cried when [James Wilby] won, I was an emotional wreck. It's nice to see how hard someone's worked then they finally get the glory for what they've done, which is really inspiring. Last night was so good to watch, and I'm sharing a room with Aimee [Willmott] so when she came back and I saw a medal, I was like 'I want one of those!'.
"I knew I was in a good position but I didn't want to get my hopes up about it, I was just thinking about the process of it. My finishes in the heats and the semi's weren't great, so I knew if I just nailed my finish then I'd be in a really good position.
"I've got the 100m later in the week so the 50m was just a bonus event for me, all my training was more based around the 100m because that's in the Olympics and that's where I want to be, so the 50m was just a bonus event and using it as confidence.”
Fellow Loughborough College degree student Luke Greenbank finished 4th in the men’s 100m backstroke final.
“I came back really well so I’m really pleased, it’s given me quite a lot of confidence going.
“I think I handled the conditions quite well, I’m in a bit of an advantage because I train outside all the time but I think that you just got to work with it and there is no point making excuses about it.
“I’ve never raced a major championship outside at all, so it was quite difficult, but I’ve trained here a few times, I actually came here for a training camp a couple of years ago and I’ve been in Thailand or other places where it’s like that. It’s always difficult but you just got to work with it, there is no point making excuses.”
Fraer Morrow is also amongst the fifty Loughborough College students and alumni represented in the England, Wales, Scotland and Isle of Man teams competing in Australia.
Fraer was making her Commonwealth Games debut and lifted a personal best and broke a British record in the 53kg weightlifting.
“The crowd was amazing today, I loved it. It’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever performed in front of as well. There’s no words to describe how I am feeling getting to perform here, It’s the biggest competition I’ve ever been in and being around all the different athletes is a really different experience,” said the Loughborough College sport student, who finished in 5th place.
“I think I could have done even better but I am always going to think that. If I had got that last snatch then that would have been the perfect day but it’s my first Commonwealth Games and I’m still only 19 so I can settle for five lifts from six.
“I’m still a junior lifter so there’s still that to come but my aim is the Olympics as the next big event which I need to try and get the points I need. They can put me in any competition and I’ll do it.”
Team England netball – featuring five Loughborough College alumni on the squad - meanwhile earned a second win of the Games with a 74-49 victory over Malawi in the netball.
England men hit a magnificent seven as they began their Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games hockey campaign in style.
With a selected squad including College alumni Chris Griffiths and Henry Weir, Weir found space out wide early in the game to fire in a cross where Sam Ward was on hand to touch home from close range.
Another from Ward and a double from Mark Gleghorne along with strikes from David Goodfield, Harry Martin and Phil Roper completed a dominant win.
England's women also won with a 5-1 victory over Wales. Rio gold medallist Nicola White is absent from the side due to injury but fellow Loughborough College alumna Suzy Petty does feature in the squad. It was two for two after their 2-0 win over South Africa yesterday.
Back in the pool, Scotland's Kathleen Dawson beat England's Lizzie Simmonds in a swim-off to reach the final of the women's 100m backstroke.
Dawson and Loughborough College alumna Simmonds, a former European and Commonwealth medallist who raced at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics, both finished their semi-finals in a time of 1 minute, 00.67 seconds - meaning they had to go head-to-head in order to complete the final line-up.
Pictured: Loughborough College student Sarah Vasey wins gold in the 50m breaststroke on her Commonwealth Games debut