MCCLATCHEY BETTERS 19-YEAR-OLD BRITISH RECORD
The oldest British Record surviving within long course swimming
was consigned to the history books in Swansea tonight when
Caitlin McClatchey set a new best time in the 400m Freestyle.
The Loughborough University swimmer turned in the performance
of her life to win the event in 4:07.02 and bettered Sarah
Hardcastle's previous record, which had stood for 19 years,
of 4:07.68.
McClatchey's achievement is all the more sweet following
a hectic week of exams and taking to the water unrested and
in full training.
"That gives me such confidence for the World Championships,"
said the teenager. "It's just great to break the record.
We were hoping to go fast next month but we didn't think we
would do it here.
"I've not rested for the meet and life's been so hectic
with the end of my first year at college and the exams that
come with it. It's been my first real season at the 400m so
to get the record is amazing.
"It's a special group that I'm training with in Loughborough
and seven of them have now qualified for the World Championships.
It's a very exciting time."
McClatchey was followed home by Durham Aquatics Jo Jackson
who also achieved a qualifying time to become part of the
British squad bound for next month's World Championships in
Canada.
Jackson, who herself threatened the British Record just days
before, touched second in 4:09.57 and Becky Cooke (City of
Glasgow) was third in 4:11.84.
"I'm just so relieved to have made the time," explained
Jackson. "I've been in America and Europe competing and
training, and I feel very tired so to qualify is a very big
deal for me.
"I wanted that time more than anything and it's so close
in this event, it could have gone to a handful of girls.
"I'm really happy that Caitlin (McClatchey) broke the
record. It's stood for so long and now maybe now we'll all
be able to lower even further."
The Stage Three meet in Swansea was the last chance for Britain's
swimmers to cement a place on the World Championships squad
and the final number in contention swelled to 16 individual
and two relay swims.
World Champion over the 200m Backstroke, Portsmouth Northsea's
Katie Sexton, was the last to add her name to the list and
looks set to defend her title when she qualified in her favourite
event.
She put a difficult year behind her when she finished in
2:11.49, Mel Marshall was second in 2:11.18, just one hundredth
of a second off qualifying, in 2:12.18 and Jo Fargus (University
of Bath) was third in 2:12.20.
"That swim has given me a big pick-me-up. It's been
a really difficult year and deep down I didn't think I was
in the right shape to qualify so to get the time and to be
able to defend my title is a dream," said a delighted
Sexton.
"I'm still very weak and to be honest I need to sit
down now with my coach Graham Wardell to patch together a
preparation between now and the worlds.
"I know I have the times within me it's just that I
didn't think the time was right to achieve them. It's given
me back my self belief."
The Men's 100m Breaststroke event was one of the most closely
fought events of the night and victory eventually went to
Chris Cook (City of Newcastle) who touched in 1:01.42 just
outside the qualifying standard.
Darren Mew (University of Bath) was second in 1:01.84, having
already gained the time needed back in March, and James Gibson
(Loughborough University) was third in 1:02.85.
James Goddard, despite being in heavy training, dipped below
two minutes in the Men's 200m Backstroke when he took a close
final in 1:59.95 from his old adversary Gregor Tait (City
of Cardiff) in 2:00.00. Stephen Mellor (Stockport Metro) was
third in 2:03.11
Mark Foster (University of Bath) missed out on qualification
when he went 22.64 in the 50m Freestyle when he needed to
hit 22:18. Anthony Howard (Horwich) was second in 23.48 and
Matt Tutty (University of Bay) was third in 23.55.
National Performance Director was pleased with end results
of the trials which gives him a strong team across a wide
range of events for Montreal next month.
"It's the size of team that I expected and it's a strong
team. We rested too much after the Olympics but we still have
a good team going to Montreal and our range of events is expanding.
Britain used to be known as a breaststroke nation but that
is changing," said Sweetenham.
QUALIFYING STANDARD
Those athletes who have gained the qualifying standard to
be considered for selection are: 200m Free - Mel Marshall
400m Free - David Carry 400m Free - Caitlin McClatchey, Jo
Jackson 800m Free - Becky Cooke 1500m Free - David Davies
50m Back - Liam Tancock 100m Back - James Goddard 200m Back
- Gregor Tait 200m Back - Katie Sexton 50m Breast - James
Gibson, Chris Cook 50m Breast - Kate Haywood 100m Breast -
Kirsty Balfour, Kate Haywood 100m Breast - Darren Mew
W 4x200m Free relay
W 4x100m Medley relay
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