SMITH FINDS RACING FORM IN DEBRECEN
Lewis Smith broke the Scottish Record twice for the 400m
IM on day two of the European Short Course Championships in
Debrecen, Hungary
The 19 year old from Warrender Baths Club in Edinburgh shaved
three seconds off his PB to set a new record of 4:10.88 during
the heats. He then went onto better that in the final, finishing
8th in 4:10.70.
The final itself saw local hero Laszlo Cseh break his second
World Record of the meet taking gold in 3:59.33. The silver
medal was won by Luca Marin of Italy in 4:04.10 with Ioannis
Drymonakos of Greece taking bronze in 4:05.08.
Smith was pleased with his time following the race,
"I was happy with the way I swam during the heats and
it is always pleasing to get a good PB as well as setting
a new Scottish Record.
"I was hoping to go faster in tonight's final but I
just did not have enough speed left in me. I did however improve
on my PB and have lowered the record again so for this point
in the season I really can't ask for more.
"I feel I am coming into some good racing form, which
will give me confidence in the build up to the Olympic Trials
at the beginning of April."
Asked if he was aware that a world record was on the cards
during the race, Smith continued,
"I could hear the commentator speak, quickly followed
by a huge roar from the crowd, so I knew that Cseh was going
for it. It is quite special to be part of a record breaking
final."
Smith's coach, Ian Wright, was also satisfied with the performances
Smith has been putting in during the meet, he said,
"Lewis' aim for today was to reach the final of the
400m IM, which he did. This was his first senior international
final with team GB and I was very pleased to see him compete
hard against some top swimmers.
"Unlike so many of the European competitors here, Lewis
is neither shaved nor rested, so to get four PBs out of four
and break the Scottish Record twice, will give him great confidence
going into what will be a very important year next year."
Katy Sexton (Portsmouth Northsea) finished the final of the
Women's 100m backstroke in 6th place and in doing so ducked
under the 0.59 mark for the first time, finishing with a new
personal best time of 58.99.
The gold medal was won by Laure Manadou of France in a new
European Record time of 57.34. Sanja Jovanovic of Croatia
took silver in 57.94 with the bronze medal going to Janine
Pietsch of Germany in 58.15.
Both Sexton and her coach, Graham Wardell, were pleased with
her performance.
Sexton said, "My aim was to go sub 0.59 and that is
what I have done.
My coach and I have been focusing more on speed work for
this event and it looks as if this hard work is leading me
in the right direction.
"It was a fast final and I am pleased to have come away
with the PB I have been working towards."
Becky Cooke (City of Glasgow Swim Team) and Cassie Patten
(Stockport Metro) competed in the fastest heat of the 800m
freestyle.
Patten swam a solid first 400m, keeping up with the leaders,
but faded during the second half of the race, to finish 7th
overall in a time of 8:20.25.
She said, "That was hard! I struggled with the second
400m and was pleased to finish the race in what has turned
out to be a PB.
"My preparation for this race and this meet has not
been ideal. Two weeks ago when I was out in Australia, I came
down with a chest infection and was feeling rotten.
"I am also not over my jet lag but it has been so good
to come here where the other GB athletes, coaches and staff
have been so supportive and the team are really close. We
all want to compete well, not just for ourselves but for one
another."
Becky Cooke was also full of praise for the support of the
team. Following a disappointing 800m performance she commented,
"I have been feeling very tired over the past few weeks
and I did struggle in that race.
"I think the camp in Australia and competing at Eindhoven
last week is beginning to catch up with me, which is unfortunately
reflected in my poor time (8:28.80).
"The team out here in Debrecen are a great crowd; we
are very supportive of one another, so they will encourage
me to get back out there and swim hard. Tomorrow is a new
day so to speak."
Marco Loughran (Guildford/Offshore Centre) was unfortunately
disqualified from his semi final of the 50m Backstroke for
a false start.
City of Birmingham's Terri Dunning again featured in the
evening session, competing in the semi final of the 50m butterfly.
The 22-year old was drawn in an outside lane and finished
7th (13th overall) in another personal best time of 27.22
and was clearly pleased with her time.
"This is not my best event so to come away with a PB
is very pleasing.
"I did not even expect to get through to the semi finals
but the 2 athletes per nation rule got me in, which was a
bonus.
"I've got the 100m fly tomorrow so this result and those
of yesterday will give me real confidence going into the morning
heats."
On the second day of competition team GB achieved two Scottish
Records and 11 PBs.
The European Short Course Championships (25m) is taking place
in Debrecen, Hungary between 13th and 16th December 2007.
Team GB comprises:
Female Male
Cassandra Patten Stockport Metro Adam Brown Hatfield
Charlotte Barnes University of Bath Andrew Mayor Co Newcastle
Debbie Hall Co Sheffield Charles Turner Ealing
Emma Bird Nova Centurion Christopher Cook Co Newcastle
Georgia Davies Swansea Performance Christopher Watkinson Loughborough
University
Georgina Heyn Ealing Daniel Coombs Chorley Marlins
Karen Lee Bristol North Daniel Fogg Loughborough University
Katy Sexton Portsmouth Northsea Dean Milwain Loughborough
University
Keri-Anne Payne Stockport Metro James Kirton Co Sheffield
Louise Pate Heart of Midlothian Lewis Smith Warrender Baths
Club
Rebecca Cooke City of Glasgow Marco Loughran Guildford City
Sophie Caul Co Birmingham Mark McKenna Co Manchester Aquatics
Terri Dunning Co Birmingham Owen Morgan Cranleigh
Peter Thompson Middlesbrough ASC
Richard Webb University of Bath
Todd Cooper Stirling Swim
Xavier Mohammed Bexley
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