DAVIES AND TANCOCK ADD TO BRITISH MEDAL COUNT
Britain finished the Monteal World Swimming Championships
on a high thanks to two more medals courtesy of David Davies
and Liam Tancock. Britain’s haul of three medals, Caitlin
McClatchey winning the first in the 400m Freestyle on day
one, may not have been as high as that of two years ago when
they won eight in Barcelona but it is a realistic haul from
a squad in transition. In a post Olympic year following a
glut of retirements British Swimming is blooding a number
of fresh faces to the international scene and it is those
that have impressed over the past eight days to give the team
is three medals.
Tonight Davies (City of Cardiff) was edged out of the silver
medal by American Larsen Jensen in the 1500m Freestyle and
had to settle for bronze as they fought for the spoils behind
by a dominant Grant Hackett of Australia. Hackett won in 14:42.58
with Jensen home in 14:47.58 and Davies just behind, after
attacking the American, in 14.48.11.
“It was a pity he got in there just ahead of me again,
like he did at the Olympics last year, but I had a real go
for the silver,” said Davies. “They were washing
me away out there, I look like a little lost boy up against
some of the bigger guys.” “It’s been really
tough this year after I gave so much in Athens so I’m
pleased with that performance. It was a great field and I
had to work hard for everything I got. “I need to get
down to some more strength work now in order to put more speed
into my performance. I want to be able to get out there quicker
to build from there and that’s what I’ll be doing
ahead of the Commonwealth Games next spring.”
Tancock (Loughborough University) set a new British Record
for the second day running when he finished third in the 50m
Backstroke to take bronze. In a tight finish Tancock touched
behind Aristeidis Grigoriadis of Greece, who took the gold
in 24.95, Australian Matt Welsh took the silver in 24.99 and
Tancock’s time of 25.02 beat his previous best of 25.22.
“I’m so happy with that,” said Tancock,
“A medal at my first major international meet is something
pretty special and to bring my time down as low as I have
this week is so encouraging for the future. “It was
fast out there and to emerge from such a class line-up with
a medal gives me so much belief in what I’m capable
of.”
Kate Haywood (Loughborough University) was sixth in the 50m
Breaststroke when she finished in 31.49. Gold went to Jade
Edmistone of Australia in a World Record time of 30.45, American
Jessica Hardy was second in 30.85 and Brooke Hanson of Australia
claimed the bronze in 30.89.
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