RECORDS FALL AT SEMI FINALS IN SHEFFIELD
Britain's swimmers meant business tonight as three home
nation standards and a British Record fell in the semi-final
of the 200m Freestyle and a further two fell during the course
of the session at the Commonwealth Games Trials in Sheffield.
The first night of the Trials was all about qualification
for tomorrow's finals as Commonwealth hopefuls swam in eight
events.
Wycombe District's Simon Burnett set a new British Record
in the 200m Freestyle and knocked half a second off his previous
best in 1:47.26 seconds to qualify fastest for tomorrow night's
final.
"It's my first shaved and rested 200m Free since the
Olympic Games," he said. "I didn't really know what
to expect. It was my first long course swim in that kind of
condition.
"I was rather disappointed this morning. I didn't feel
particularly comfortable as my legs felt kind of heavy and
I wasn't quite sure if my taper was spot on, but I know I'll
feel better tomorrow where I hope to lower the record again.
"I'm in the best shape I've been in for some time and
watching the World Championships last week has made me want
it even more."
World and Olympic 1500m Freestyle bronze medallist David
Davies set a new Welsh record in the 200m event with a time
of 1:50.46 seconds and Scot David Carry lowered the bar with
a new lifetime best of 1:49.21 seconds.
"It was a pretty old record," admitted Davies.
"I felt awful this morning and I was looking to go through,
but I had a good warm-up with coach Dave Haller and I found
the rhythm to have a much better race.
"I need to do more 200m and 400m events to get my speed
and strength up so I can take it out in the 1500m as well
as bring it home."
Scotland's Gregor Tait was also in form and lowered the national
standard in the 50m Backstroke to 26.15 seconds to qualify
for the final in second place. Loughborough University's Liam
Tancock, who won bronze in the same event at last week's World
Championships, dipped below 26 seconds to qualify fastest
in 25.99 seconds.
"That gives me real confidence for my other backstroke
events at this meet," said Tait. "It's great to
get that kind of time and I'll be pushing hard to go under
26 seconds tomorrow. I'm really keen to do the 50m at the
Commonwealth Games."
In the 50m Freestyle, 15-year-old Fran Halsall goes through
to the finals as number one after clocking home in 25.96 seconds,
one hundredth of a second ahead of Loughborough University's
Lisa Chapman who follows in second.
University of Bath's Mark Foster will be looking to secure
his spot on the English team after going through fastest in
the 50m Butterfly in 24.28 seconds, while Welshman Owen Morgan
finished second in a new Welsh record time of 24.60.
Melanie Marshall (Loughborough University) was the quickest
swimmer in the semi finals of the women's 100m Backstroke
with a time of 1:02.29 seconds.
Joanne Jackson (Durham Aquatics) leads the field into tomorrow's
200m Butterfly final with a time of 2:13.77 seconds.
Scotland's Kris Gilchrist (City of Edinburgh) is the fastest
through to the 200m Breaststroke final in 2:14.57 seconds.
Kate Haywood has returned from World Championships with boosted
confidence and is more than two seconds ahead of the group
into the 100m Breaststroke after clocking home in 1:08.80
seconds.
In the only final of the evening, the women's 4x200m Freestyle,
Stockport Metro took the Youth title in 8:25.18 seconds. Portsmouth
Northsea won silver in 8:27.75 seconds and Nova Centurion
took bronze in 8:32.18 seconds.
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