STORM STOPS EURO SWIM CHAMPS
Thunder and lightening halted the European Swimming Championship
action on a night of mixed fortunes for the British team.
With the third final of the evening involving British swimmers
- the women's 200m Backstroke - postponed until tomorrow night,
Britain are yet to pick up their first medal of the meet.
In the men's 100m Breaststroke final, Brits James Gibson
(Loughborough University) and Chris Cook (City of Newcastle)
went head to head in what promised to be an exciting race.
With Championship Record Holder Oleg Lisogor (Ukraine) heading
the field, and less than fourth tenths of a second separating
the top five, it was wide open.
After a slow start Cook, who is returning from a groin injury
that has hampered his preparation for this meet, came back
on the second leg but run out of pool to finish an agonising
fourth in 60.99 seconds, 0.35 behind bronze medallist Lisogor.
Roman Sludnov of Russia won gold in 60.61 and Alexander Dale
Oen (Norway) claimed silver in 60.63.
"It was a very mixed race for me," admitted Cook.
"I didn't start well but then came back strong, unfortunately
just missing out on a medal. Despite my injury I really believed
I could get a medal but it wasn't to be. It will make me more
determined though."
Team-mate Gibson, who is showing some of the form that saw
him win world bronze in this event three years ago, ran out
of steam on the return length to touch in eighth in 61.46.
"It's a frustrating end to a promising event for me,"
he said. "I didn't stick to my race plan and I paid the
price."
In the men's 100m Backstroke, British duo Liam Tancock (Loughborough
University) and Matt Clay (Swansea) were just off medal pace
in a fast race that saw winner Arkady Vyatchanin (Russia)
set a new Championship Record of 53.50.
The pair swam side-by-side in the first two lanes and there
was little to tell between them as they touched fourth and
fifth in 54.51 (Tancock) and 54.52 (Clay).
"I'm pleased with that performance," said Tancock.
"I wasn't sure what to expect coming into the meet as
my training was up and down because of my broken wrist, but
to make the final and go just nine hundredths off my best
is really pleasing.
"The pressure's off now as I've qualified for the Worlds
and anything more is a bonus. I've got the 50m tomorrow and
if I can get through in that too it will be great."
In the 100m Breaststroke, world number two Kirsty Balfour
(City of Edinburgh) is fastest through to tomorrow night's
final after swimming 1:08.02 in the semis, while British team
mate Kate Haywood (Loughborough University) was close to her
best with a time of 1:08.47 that sees her through in third
position.
"Today has gone very well for me - two impressive times
and I hope I can go faster," said Balfour. "It was
good racing the Aussies at the Commonwealth Games, now I'm
looking forward to racing Europe."
Haywood is looking for a personal best in the final.
"I just concentrated on my own race and it worked for
me," she said. "My aim is to go sub-68 tomorrow."
In the 100m Freestyle, 16-year-old Fran Halsall set a lifetime
best of 54.99 to qualify for the finals in seventh position.
The City of Liverpool swimmer was up with the seniors in a
hard race that saw the Championship Record fall to Britta
Steffen (Germany) who touched in 54.21.
"I'm so pleased to go under 55," said and excited
Halsall. "That's what I came here to do. The good thing
is I feel I can go faster, I just hope it's in the final tomorrow.
I feel I can go out with the big girls now, I just need to
come back with them."
Loughborough University's Ros Brett improved on her time
this morning with a 56.20 swim, but it wasn't enough to progress
from the semis.
After missing out on qualification for the 100m Backstroke
yesterday, City of Cardiff's Gregor Tait swam one of his best
ever races as he faced European Record holder Laszlo Cseh
in the 200m Individual Medley.
As the heavens opened and the swimmers faced the rain and
strong winds, Tait was surprisingly close to his best to qualify
for the final in second position in 2:01.09.
"It was quite enjoyable swimming in the rain although
the strong wind made the backstroke turn difficult to judge,"
he said. "I've only ever been faster once before and
given the conditions I'm so pleased and looking forward to
tomorrow."
British team-mate Euan Dale (Loughborough University) equalled
his personal best of 2:02.50 and goes through to the final
in eighth position.
The semi final of the men's 200m Freestyle involving Brits
Dave Carry (Loughborough University) and Simon Burnett (Wycombe
District) has also been postponed until tomorrow.
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