CARRY LEADS WAY IN 12-MEDAL HAUL FOR SWIMMERS
Britain's swimmers sparkled under the glare of the Catalan
sun with 12 medals on day one of the Barcelona Mare Nostrum.
There were impressive performances from all quarters of the
British squad as experienced athletes stood alongside emerging
talent. However, all are unified by a lack of rest as they
race in adversity while in full training.
This failed to hold the British athletes back and it was
Commonwealth Champion David Carry who led the way with a gold
in the Men's 400m Freestyle and silver in the 200m Freestyle.
Carry (Loughborough University) got the British contingent
off to the perfect start when he overhauled Australian rival
Craig Stevens to take the 400m title.
Gold went to Carry in 3:49.18, Stevens took the silver in
3:49.95 and Dragos Coman of Romania grabbed bronze in 3:51.97.
"I'm thrilled, I had wanted to go under 3:52.00 but
tonight was just short, by a second, of my best ever time,"
said Carry, "That's a real surprise for me given the
circumstances of training throughout.
"I knew I was swimming well after the Canet meet earlier
this week but I'm feeling tired now from racing, travelling
and training."
Tonight's performance has given Carry real belief for the
future given the improvements he's made in event over the
past 12 months.
"It's so exciting, I just can't wait for the European
Championships next month. If I'm going this fast while feeling
so tired then who knows what might be.
"Beating swimmers who are totally prepared and rested
for this meet gives me real confidence for the future."
He continued to impress with silver in the 200m event but
it was his Loughborough team mate Ross Davenport who stepped
onto the top step of the podium.
Davenport took the honours in 1:49.79, Carry was second in
1:50.03 and Jean Basson of South Africa was third in 1:50.99.
"That was pretty painful," admitted a tired Davenport.
"I felt very flat walking around the pool before the
event and didn't know how to approach the race. As soon as
I touched the water that changed.
"It was the best I've felt in a long time. I went out
hard from the start. It hurt a lot over the last 75m but to
hit that kind of time while unrested is pleasing."
Britain produced a clean sweep of the podium places in the
Women's 800 Freestyle when Rebecca Adlington (Nova Centurion)
lead home in 8:34.76, ahead of Keri-Anne Payne (Stockport
Metro) in 8:38.19 and Cassie Patten (Plymouth Leander) was
third in 8:39.43.
Mel Marshall took gold in the Women's 200m Freestyle with
a strong swim after dominating from start to finish.
The Loughborough University swimmer was never troubled as
she touched for the victory in 1:59.10 ahead of Camelia Potec
of Romania in 2:00.17 and Arantxa Ramos of Spain in 2:01.28.
"That was positive," said Marshall. "I felt
like I didn't go all the way and put everything I had into
it. It was just a relaxed swim and I'm happy with that. I'm
getting faster and faster while in training but it shows I'm
heading in the right direction."
Kirsty Balfour (City of Edinburgh) took silver in the Women's
200m Breaststroke as she continued to show good form.
Gold went to Leisel Jones of Australia in 2:23.38, Balfour
was next in 2:26.86 and Sally Foster of Australia was third
in 2:29.57.
"It actually felt quite sluggish so I'm very surprised
it was that quick," said Balfour. "I'm really pleased
with that time, it's faster than Canet and shows there's more
to come as I'm training through this tour.
"This tour for me has been about keeping technique right
while being tired. It gives you that mental strength you need
and I can push myself harder for greater results."
City of Cardiff's Gregor Tait took silver in the Men's 200m
Individual Medley when he finished in 2:05.47 behind Leith
Brodie of Australia in 2:02.12 and ahead of Christophe Soulier
of Spain in 2:05.61.
"I'm please to come second in an event I'm still learning
about," said Tait. "I could have done better with
the breaststroke leg but I'm still on that learning curve.
"The medley is an event I'll be taking serious from
now on. It's another option to add to the backstroke and I
want more international experience of the event."
Kate Haywood (Loughborough University) won a bronze in the
Women's 50m Breaststroke when she touched in 31.82 behind
Leisel Jones of Australia in 30.77 and Zoe Baker of New Zealand
in 31.75.
British youngster Hanah Miley (Garioch, Scotland) enjoyed
only her second full international with a bronze medal in
the Women's 200m Individual Medley. She finished in 2:17.35
behind Yana Klochkova of the Ukraine in 2:15.43 and Julie
Hjorth of Denmark in 2:15.90.
Terri Dunning (City of Birmingham) took bronze in the Women's
200m Butterfly with a time of 2:12.85. She finished behind
Audrey Lacroix of Canada in 2:10.87 and Felicity Galvez of
Australia 2:12.56.
Four British swimmers are recovering after being struck down
by gastroenteritis. Unable to travel to Barcelona with the
squad, those suffering spent a day recovering in Canet until
fit enough to travel. They eventually joined up with the remainder
of the team today.
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