DOUBLE GOLD IN THE POOL FOR TEAM ENGLAND
Team England more than doubled their medal tally on the third
night in the pool with gold and silver in the men's and women's
relays and the men's 100m Breaststroke and bronze in the women's
100m Backstroke and men's EAD 50m Freestyle.
The men's 4x200m Freestyle team upset hosts Australia by
denying them gold in the event for the first time in 50 years.
The quartet of Simon Burnett (Wycombe), Dean Milwain, Alex
Scotcher (both Loughborough university) and Ross Davenport
(University of Bath) stayed strong, with anchor Davenport
reducing an Australian and Scottish lead, to bring it home
on the final length in 7:14.14.
"I was hurting on the first leg, but I wanted to get
to the wall to get the team in a good position," said
lead swimmer Burnett.
"It didn't feel that hard, I think the adrenaline took
me through," added Davenport. "The English team
is having a fantastic night in the pool."
The Scottish team of David Carry, Euan Dale, Andrew Hunter
and Robbie Renwick won silver in 7:14.40 and Australia took
the bronze in 7:14.99.
In the women's 4x200m Freestyle, Jo Jackson (Durham Aquatics)
set a lifetime best to lead the team out in 1:59.12. Kate
Richardson (Kingston Upon Hull) and Julia Beckett (Loughborough
University) swam the middle legs to keep England in the top
three, but the battle was with New Zealand for the silver
medal.
Mel Marshall (Loughborough University) put in a solid performance
on the anchor leg to increase the team's lead on New Zealand
and touch home for the second spot in 8:01.23. The Australian
quartet of Libby Lenton, Bronte Barratt, Kelly Stubbins and
Linda Mackenzie forged an early lead that couldn't be challenged
and finished in a Games Record time of 7:56.68.
"The relay is such an exciting event to be involved
in," said a pleased Jackson. "We all wanted to go
out there and do our best and we got a medal out of it - I'm
absolutely thrilled."
"It might be the Australians' back yard, but it's our
playing field," added Marshall. "I think we're really
showing what England is capable of."
Marshall collected her second bronze of the Games in a fast
100m Backstroke race that saw the Games Record fall to Sophie
Edington of Australia. Marshall finished in a lifetime best
of 61.55, behind Edington in 60.93 and Giaan Rooney (also
of Australia) in 61.42. Katy Sexton (Portsmouth Northsea)
finished sixth in 62.16.
After missing out on qualification for Manchester in 2002,
Chris Cook's (City of Newcastle) four-year wait paid off as
the 26-year-old swam to victory in the 100m Breaststroke in
60.98.
"I've been in the shadows of these guys for so long
and I've been through some really bad patches over the last
few years," admitted Cook.
"I was so focussed I didn't even think I was in the
final. I just tried to swim two lengths of the baths as fast
as I could!"
Team mate James Gibson (Loughborough University) made it
a one-two as he touched home in silver position in 61.10.
Darren Mew (University of Bath) was just six tenths of a second
off making it a clean sweep for England, but lost out to Australian
Brenton Rickard, finishing in 61.23.
"I had to give it my all tonight," said Gibson.
"I'm in reasonable shape and I've been training well.
I knew Cooky would be difficult to beat, but I think I gave
him a run for his money. I'm so happy for Chris. We've knocked
him out of the major meets for some time, but his performance
tonight was just amazing."
Matt Walker (Marple) picked up England's first medal of the
evening with a bronze in the 50m EAD Freestyle. Walker, who
was outside the medals in Manchester 2002, put in a strong
performance to beat British rival Dave Roberts, who is representing
Wales in Melbourne.
In the EAD events (elite athletes with a disability), medallists
are the swimmers closest to their respective world records.
Walker clocked home in 28.94 and was less than four tenths
of a second off the S7 World Record.
15-year-old Fran Halsall (City of Liverpool) couldn't upset
Australia in the 100m Freestyle and finished fourth in a lifetime
best of 55.40. Ros Brett (Loughborough University) came home
in sixth in 56.02 and in the 50m Butterfly, Matt Clay (Swansea)
finished seventh in 24.21.
After winning silver yesterday in the 200m Freestyle, Simon
Burnett (Wycombe) has qualified fastest for the final of the
100m event in 41.19 ahead of training partner Roland Schoeman
of South Africa.
England team mates Chris Cozens (Loughborough University)
and Anthony Howard (Horwich) failed to make the top eight
after finishing in 50.72 and 51.23 respectively.
Terri Dunning (City of Birmingham) swam a lifetime best and
set a new British Record of 59.02 to qualify third fastest
for tomorrow's final of the100m Butterfly. In the first semi,
England's Ros Brett (Loughborough University) touched home
in 60.36, which puts her out of the final.
"I did a personal best in the heat and I was hoping
to go that little bit quicker tonight," said a delighted
Dunning. "I just hope I can do as well in the 200m event,
and I can carry it on to the end of the week. I'm going to
try my very best to medal."
Gregor Tait of Scotland made history by adding a third gold
medal to his team's tally in the pool. The favourite was true
to form and touched in 1:58.65 for a new Games Record in the
200m Backstroke.
Kirsty Balfour collected Scotland's fourth medal of the Games
with British Record breaking performance of 2:20.04 and a
silver in the 200m Breaststroke.
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