DAVIES FACES USUAL SUSPECTS IN 1500M FINAL
Olympic medallist David Davies goes in tomorrow’s World
Championship final of the 1500m Freestyle as fastest qualifier
but is fully aware of the challenge posed by what looks like
one of the strongest ever fields to contest the distance.
The City of Cardiff swimmer kick started a better day in the
pool for Britain. Liam Tancock set a new British Record in
the 50m Backstroke and Kate Haywood went a lifetime best in
the 50m Breaststroke as they both secured final spots for
the last day of action in Montreal.
Davies, swimming in the third of five heats, must have had
a sense of déjà vu when he went 14:59.33 to
secure lane four for tomorrow’s final. It was the same
scenario at last summer’s Olympics but he expects the
challenge in Montreal to be even greater.
The form shown in Montreal by the distance freestylers has
been exceptional and the usual suspects of Australia’s
Grant Hackett, American Larsen Jensen and Russian Yuri Prilukov
will head an exceptional field Davies must overcome to secure
a medal.
Two years ago Davies announced his arrival on the international
scene with a fourth place at the Barcelona World Championships
but he now has clear intentions of bettering that for a medal.
His heat swim was certainly a good starting point for his
1500m campaign.
“I just wanted to make sure I got into the final,”
said Davies. “It happened last year in Athens when I
got a good lane so I hope it’s a similar omen.
“I concentrated on building my swim during the heat
and enjoyed being out there in my main event. I’m really
excited about what tomorrow might bring.”
Tancock (Loughborough University) qualified for tomorrow’s
final of the 50m Backstroke in a new British Record of 25.22.
His own previously had stood at 25.38.
He will go into the final second fastest after he finished
his semi-final behind Greek Aristeidis Grigoriadis in 25.11.
“A lifetime best and a British Record, I can’t
ask for more than that today really,” said Tancock.
“It would be great to leave my first major championships
with a medal but I expect the final will be even faster.
“If I can lower the record again tomorrow hopefully
I will be up there competing for the podium.”
Haywood (Loughborough University) went a personal best 31.41
in the 50m Breaststroke semi-final and finished fifth overall
in tomorrow’s final.
“I was disappointed not to make the final in the 100m
so this goes some way to making up for that,” said Haywood.
“It should be an exciting race as there are some fast
girls out there.
“I just want to do myself justice and will be concentrating
on my own race and not what’s going on around me.”
Britain’s also suffered disappointment on the penultimate
day in Montreal when Rebecca Cooke (City of Glasgow) finished
a lowly seventh in the 800m Freestyle.
A medallist in 2003, Cooke faded badly during the early stages
of the race and ended up way out of contention over 12 seconds
behind the winner.
Kate Ziegler of the U.S. took the honours in 8:25.31 with
Brittany Reimer second in 8:27.59 and Ai Shibata of Japan
took the bronze in 8:27.86.
“I don’t know what is wrong with me,” said
Cooke. “I need to go back home to analyse things to
try to figure out what the problem is.
“I’ve put the work in, I feel physically fit but
I just haven’t got my usual endurance.”
Britain’s Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay of Katy
Sexton, Ros Brett, Kate Haywood and Mel Marshall failed to
qualify for tonight’s final when they finished the heats
in 10th place in 4:07.71. The final qualifying place went
to Japan in 4:07.32.
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