SEXTON SETS NEW BRITISH STANDARD IN DEBRECEN
Katy Sexton produced a great semi final swim to lower the
British standard for 50m backstroke on day three of the European
Short Course Championships in Debrecen.
Sexton (Portsmouth Northsea) finished in a new British Record
time of 27.99, which also secured her a place in the final.
The final itself produced another World Record, in what is
proving to be a very fast championship.
Sanja Jovanovic from Croatia broke Hui Li of China's six
year old record (26.83) to achieve a new world best of 26.50.
Janine Pietsch of Germany was second in 27.11 with Fabienne
Nadarajah of Austria winning bronze in 27.50.
Sexton's time of 28.11 gave her 8th place which she was satisfied
with. She said,
"I am really pleased with my swim in the final. Perhaps
if there had not been so long between each of my races I could
have swum faster, but I am not complaining.
"Breaking the British Record in the semi finals was
a great surprise. That has not happened for a while!
"Short course swimming is not where my strength lies
so to come away with several personal bests and a British
Record is very pleasing and it highlights that my training
is moving in the right direction."
Thinking ahead, Sexton was looking forward to the New Year.
She added,
"I am hoping to get away on a warm weather camp in February
and then return to rest up a few weeks before the all important
Olympic Trials at the start of April."
City of Newcastle's Chris Cook also raced well to reach the
final of the 50m breaststroke where he finished 6th in a time
of 27.28.
The race was won by the reigning World & European record
holder Oleg Lisogor of Ukraine in 26.75. Silver went to Aleksander
Hetland of Norway in 26.95 and the bronze medal was won by
Alessandro Terrin of Italy in 27.09.
Cook felt positive following the race and was looking forward
to building on his performance here going into 2008.
"That felt good, I was happy with that performance in
the final. I'm pleased to get amongst some of the top names
here who have been rested prior to this meet.
"Like several on the GB squad I am coming through a
heavy training block which saw me in Australia for a couple
of months.
"Before flying out to Hungary I was home for just over
a week but I have had real problems shaking off the jet lag.
It has hit me more this time, than ever before.
"I was disappointed with the way I swam in the 100m
breaststroke so I was pleased that I have come back strongly
and lowered my time each round.
Cook also commented on the depth of breaststroke swimming
in the UK and knows that places on the team to Beijing will
be hard to come by.
"2008 is a very important year for so many British athletes.
My year will start at the Scottish Short Course Championships
in January, and then in February I will do some warm weather
training out in Florida.
"I aim to be back in the UK early March so I can rest
up before the Olympic Trials, where nobody in this event will
be able to take any round for granted, as there are just too
many guys, both young and old, fighting for the ticket to
Beijing."
Terri Dunning (Co Birmingham) produced another strong swim
only just missing out in a place in the final of the 100m
butterfly.
Dunning finished 9th overall after the semi finals in a time
of 58.64 which was a frustrating result for the 22-year old.
"I was hoping to get a PB tonight, which would have
taken me into tomorrows final. I was not too far off it so
I am pleased, but to finish 9th I cannot help thinking I could
have pushed harder.
"I have enjoyed a very good meet here, with personal
bests in both my 50m and 200m fly as well as setting a new
British Record so I am really happy.
"I will be training hard at home come the New Year and
all my focus and attention will be on the Trials in April."
Marco Loughran (Guildford City/Offshore Centre) again featured
in the semi finals, this time in the 100m backstroke where
he produced another personal best time of 53.64 to finish
15th overall.
Loughran had worked hard on his race plan prior to the evening
session and was pleased with the result.
"That felt a lot easier than the heats did. My preparation
was good and I stuck to my plan throughout the race so I am
pleased I achieved a PB.
"I have competed well at this championship and my results
are a good indicator of where I am in terms of strength and
race form.
"From Debrecen I return to Australia for Christmas and
then I will have to knuckle down to some intensive training
and preparation prior to the Trials.
On the second day of competition team GB achieved one British
Record and 10 PBs.
The European Short Course Championships (25m) is taking place
in Debrecen, Hungary between 13th and 16th December 2007.
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