HALSALL RETAINS 100M FREESTYLE CROWN
Fran Halsall (City of Liverpool) retained her 100m Freestyle
European Junior title in Palma de Mallorca this evening.
The crown was never in doubt as she led from the start to
touch in 55.57. Silver went to Etienne of France in 56.80
and Stepanuk of Ukraine picked up bronze in 57.00.
A delighted Halsall said "I have mixed emotions. It
was nice to win as I won last year. I would have liked to
set a PB, but on the whole I'm pleased with myself."
Despite not being able to match the personal best time swum
in the semi final, Lauren Collins (City of Birmingham) finished
a credible 7th. Unlike Halsall she will have another shot
next year being a year younger.
Britain won two more medals on the second day of competition,
both in the women's 100m Backstroke. Lizzie Simmonds (Lincoln
Vulcans) won silver in 1:02.79, touching just behind Russia's
Zueva who finished in 1:02.32.
A gutsy swim from Georgia Davies brought her home in 1:03.87
for the bronze.
"That felt better than the semi," said Simmonds.
"I wanted to win but I'm very pleased with the silver
and that I went a 62."
Simmonds still has her best event, the 200m Backstroke, to
come.
An upbeat Davies beamed "I knew if I could swim like
I did yesterday I had a chance. I feel great!"
Head Coach Bill Pilczuk commented on the days competition,
"It's good to see Fran on form, right on her PB which
is a great sign for the European Long Course in two weeks
time where she will be tested against Europe's senior swimmers.
As defending champion she would have had some pressure and
I'm sure having swimmer liaison Sarah Price with her in the
call room would have helped her deal with the nerves.
"Lizzie swam just off her PB so that's another good
sign. We saw Georgia race for a medal and in her the first
international of this level she struck it rich."
In other finals this evening, last night's medallists Jessica
Dickons and Jemma Lowe (both Borough of Stockton) swam in
the women's 50m Butterfly semi with Lowe progressing to the
final and finishing 6th in 27.98
Charlotte Barnes (University of Bath) went in the women's
200m Breaststroke and finished 7th with a time of 2:36.42.
Robbie Renwick (City of Aberdeen) took the 6th spot in the
400m Freestyle recording 3:55.69 whilst Marco Loughran (Guildford
City)) finished the men's 200m Backstroke in 2:04.83 for 5th.
Women's 800m duo Jazmin Carlin (Tigersharks) and Jordan Tomlinson
(Lincoln Vulcans) finish 5th and 6th with times of 8:51.98
and 8:52.63 respectively.
The men's 4 x 200m Freestyle relay took 5th in 7:34.15
The European Junior Swimming Championships take place
in Palma de Mallorca
from Thursday 6th July to Sunday 9th July.
The Team comprises of
Alexandra Warren (Bath University), Ceri Unwin (Hatfield),
Charlotte Barnes (Bath University), Chloe Ross (Beckenham),
Emma Bird (Nova Centurion), Fran Halsall (Co Liverpool), Georgia
Davies (Swim Swansea), Helena Thornton (Nova Centurion), Jazmin
Carlin (Tigersharks), Jemma Lowe (Bo Stockton), Jessica Dickons
(Bo Stockton), Jordan Tomlinson (Lincoln Vulcans), Lauren
Collins (Co Birmingham), Lizzie Simmonds (Lincoln Vulcans),
Natalie Durant (Ealing), Rachael George (Hatfield), Sasha
Matthews (Nova Centurion) , Zoe Hester (Reading).
Adam Brown (Hatfield), Andrew Rodgie (Carnegie), Chris Middleton
(Co Sheffield), Christopher Chasser (South Aberdeenshire),
Daniel Coombs (Gallica SC), David Waslin (Kingston on Hull),
Grant Turner (Tigersharks), James Clarke (Millfield), Joseph
Keane (Derventio), Lewis Smith (Warrender), Marco Loughran
(Guildford City).
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