CARRY THE CATALYST FOR IMPRESSIVE NIGHT'S ACTION
David Carry set the tone for a successful night in the Swansea
pool where Britain's swimmers claimed the right to represent
their nation at next month's World Championships in Montreal.
The Loughborough University swimmer brought the crowd to
its feet with a breathtaking performance in the 400m Freestyle
that qualified him for the World Championships.
Carry (23) set a new Scottish Record of 3:48.96 to take gold.
The former Aberdeen man was within British Record pace at
the half-way stage but dropped off in the final 100m to miss
the seven-year-old standard of 3:48.02 set by Paul Palmer.
Qualification, however, was Carry's ultimate aim from the
three-day qualifying meet and he can now concentrate on fine-tuning
his preparations for the Canadian event.
"I can't believe that time. I wasn't feeling that great
coming into the competition but sat down before to speak with
my coach Ian Turner," said Carry.
"He told me that 3:48 was going to hurt and believe
me it did. I had this image in my head of what I needed to
do and it stayed with me all of the way. I feel such relief
now.
"Going under 3:50.60 is such an enormous achievement
for me. I've been looking at it for quite a while and people
have been telling me I have what it takes for the 400m. I
really believe that now and am looking forward to Montreal."
Olympic medallist David Davies (City of Cardiff) was second
to the wall in 3:52.49 and James Clarke of Millfield took
the bronze in 3:59.09.
Carry's swim was a catalyst for other impressive performances
as athletes used it to inspire their own performances at the
second and final qualifying meet.
Mel Marshall (Loughborough University) was one of those who
raised her efforts to secure a spot on the team when she went
1:58.25 to take the gold. Jo Jackson (Durham Aquatics) grabbed
the silver in 2:00.06 and Becky Cooke (City of Glasgow) was
third in 2:02.45.
The efforts of the girls, coupled with performances at the
first trials in March, also secured a place for the Women's
4x200m Freestyle Relay. Those who qualified the team comprise:
Marshall, Jackson, Caitlin McClatchey and Julia Beckett (both
Loughborough).
"I didn't feel that positive as I've hardly rested coming
into the event tonight but I'm thrilled to be going to Montreal.
I'm really excited about that swim," said Marshall who
celebrated qualification with a muted scream.
"I missed out by the smallest of margins in March but
now I've made it by the same kind of gap. My constituency
this season has been much improved over last year where I'd
swim well and then have a nightmare."
"Credit must also go to the relay team though who've
done a fantastic job in getting us there. We've been working
hard together and it's paying off," said Marshall.
Marshall is looking forward to the World Championships with
renewed belief after a disappointing 2004.
"These days I appreciate I can only do what I can do.
I love what I do and if that delivers my goals then great.
You can't beat yourself up over it.
"When I got out of the pool tonight I wanted to be so
excited but I just felt so tired. I've been working hard I'm
going to be there."
The first night at the Wales National Pool certainly went
to the Loughborough University contingent.
Kate Haywood was next to join the World Championship ranks
when she qualified in the 100m Breaststroke to add to her
place in the 50m event.
Haywood touched in 1:08.28 ahead of Kirsty Balfour (City
of Edinburgh) in 1:11.55 and Debbie Hall (City of Sheffield)
in 1:11.77.
"This morning I felt awful but watching my team mates
qualify before me I just knew I couldn't let them down. It's
been a special night.
"I've been swimming well but knew that I had to do it
here and that adds pressure but I'm there now. I've been doing
a lot of good work with coach Ben Titley and it's working,"
said Haywood.
Chris Cook (City of Newcastle) became the fourth swimmer
of the night to add his name to the World Championship squad
when he showed the depth of his talent in winning the 50m
Breaststroke.
Cook, who has been impressing over the 100m distance in this
month's Mare Nostrum tour of Europe, showed speed and resilience
to bring home the field in 28.02 ahead of Darren Mew in 28.16
and James Gibson in 28.46.
"I've been enjoying my racing in Europe and my idea
was to get faster and faster until we arrived in Swansea.
It worked tonight," said Cook.
"It's hard racing against such quality swimmers as Mew
and Gibson but I've learned to block them out. I've accepted
they're there but it doesn't worry me anymore as I'm more
relaxed.
Cook, who swam the 200m Breaststroke event at the Olympics,
is looking forward to applying in a major meet what he learned
in Athens.
"Athens taught me that you have to go fast in every
outing, you have to be up there in the heats, the semi-finals
and only then will you compete in the final. I need to use
this in Montreal."
Other results in Swansea tonight enabled Britain to qualify
a Women's 4x100m Medley Relay for Montreal after Ros Brett
(Loughborough University) was second in the 100m Butterfly
in 59.88. Alena Popchanka (France) won in 59.49 and Sarah
Healey (Loughborough University) was third in 1:00.04.
Mark Foster (University of Bath) won the 50m Butterfly but
his time of 24.11 wasn't good enough to qualify him for that
event. Owen Morgan (Kingston Royals) was second in 25.11 and
Andrew Mayor (City of Newcastle) was third in 25.57.
Katy Sexton (Portsmouth Northsea) didn't qualify when she
won the 100m Backstroke in a time of 1:02.60. Lizzie Simmonds
(Lincoln Vulcans) was second in 1:03.01 and Jo Fargus (University
of Bath) was third in 1:04.03.
The Stage3 meet takes place at the Wales National Pool, Swansea
between Friday 17th and Sunday 19th June. It will provide
the final opportunity for Britain's swimmers to qualify for
the World Championships in Montreal next month.
|