LOUGHRAN LOWERS WELSH STANDARD
Marco Loughran lowered the Welsh record in the 100m Backstroke
for the third time in as many days to take silver at the British
Championships in Manchester.
In a field flooded with French athletes, 18-year-old Loughran
(Guildford City) delivered a lifetime best performance of
56.20 seconds, taking more than a second and a half off the
Welsh standard previously held by Owen Morgan. Frenchmen Benjamin
Stasiulis and Pierre Roger touched home either side of Loughran
in 55.62 and 56.61 respectively.
Loughran, who has reaped the benefits of training at the
British Swimming Offshore Centre on Australia's Gold Coast,
was surprised to lower his best again.
"I came in expecting to do a high 56, so I'm really
pleased with my performance," he said. "I'm not
usually a morning swimmer but my performance here has changed
my opinion on that - I've swum two of my PBs in the morning.
I'm really looking forward to the 50m back now.
"Southport has given me the best opportunity to improve
my swimming. I'm training out there with a great bunch of
guys and my performance so far speaks for itself."
In the 100m Breaststroke, Swindon Dolphin's Chris Jones took
the title in a hard-fought race against Julien Nicolardot
of France. Neck and neck from start, there was nothing between
the pair on the turn and it was down to the touch with just
seven hundredths of a second separating them.
Jones touched home for his first senior British title in
1:03.21, Nicolardot grabbed silver in 1:03.28 and Loughborough
University's Christopher Watkinson won bronze in 1:03.64.
"I'm feeling fast at the moment and I wanted to go 62,
but I couldn't seem to do it this morning," said Jones.
"I even got up at 3.30am to get ready.
"In the heats I went out easy and brought it back strong
and it felt good. This morning I was aware of the French guy
at the turn but I told myself I had to have the better home
performance. That was an awful finish though.
"With the top three out the country this meet is a real
chance to break through and get myself known. I'm feeling
quicker than the time I've just done this morning and hopefully
when I race the top three in the summer I'll post a faster
time."
In the women's event, South Aberdeen's Kerry Buchan was challenged
into the finish but managed to hold on for gold in 1:09.50.
Youth Champion Deborah Hall (City of Sheffield) was just outside
her best for silver in 1:09.71 and Wrexham's Lowri Tynan,
who set a new Welsh record (1:10.10) in the heats, took bronze
in 1:11.05.
"I was panicking after the semi because my stroke didn't
feel right, but my first 50m was good this morning and it
was just a case of holding on for the second length,"
said Buchan. "My best is 69.3 so I wasn't far off that
this morning.
"I just missed out on qualifying for the Worlds so it
was good to have the chance to post a fast time here. I'm
used to having Kirsty [Balfour] to pull me along, but I showed
I can do good times on my own so I'm pleased."
In the women's 100m Freestyle, former World Backstroke Champion
Katie Sexton was a surprise podium-finisher. Returning to
the pool following a shoulder injury, the 24-year-old was
in good form to take bronze in 57.33 seconds, in an event
she rarely has opportunity to race.
"I don't usually get to do the 100m Freestyle so I enjoyed
that and I think a few people will be surprised with my performance,"
she said. "It's tough having to perform in the morning
and it's hard to get up for it, but everyone's in the same
boat.
"I've been recovering from a shoulder injury since Budapest
and I'm building myself back up. I'm taking a more laid-back
approach to training and my swimming's been more enjoyable.
I'm starting from scratch in a way. I'm nearly 25 now and
I need to do what suits me."
Hannah Lorgeril-Shcherb of France took the title in 56.15
and Kate Richardson of Kingston upon Hull won silver in 57.21.
In the women's 200m Backstroke, Alexianne Castel of France
won gold in 2:14.20, Stirling's Sophie Casson won silver in
2:17.35 and Charlotte Broadbent (City of Sheffield) took bronze
in 2:17.98.
The men's MD 50m Free provided spectators with a battle between
the world's top two S7 swimmers Dave Roberts (Swansea) and
Matt Walker (Marple). Roberts just got the better of world
record holder Walker to touch in 29.21 and take the gold.
Walker won silver in 29.42 and S9 swimmer Simon Miller was
next closest his respective world record for bronze.
"I would liked to have gone faster but morning finals
are a new thing for me," said Roberts. "I've been
doing a lot of speed work and I beat my main rival in his
home pool today, but I'm still a bit disappointed. Hopefully
I'll go faster at the Visa Paralympic World Cup in six weeks
time."
In the women's MD 50m Free, Heather Frederiksen (Eccles,
S6) collected her second gold of the meet, while Danielle
Watts (City of Oxford, S1) and Claire Cashmore (Kelly College,
S9) also made the podium.
Butterfly specialist Rachael Latham (Bolton Metro, S8) kept
to form in the MD 100m Butterfly to take gold in 1:22.05 with
12-year-old Elizabeth Simpkin (Kings Lynn, S9) winning silver
in 1:21.31. S10 athlete Emma Cattle (Luton) won bronze in
1:24.28.
"I went two seconds faster last night and if I swam
tonight I think I'd do a PB," said Latham. "That
wasn't a good final for me. Last night I was so close to my
best, but I just don't think I'm good in the mornings. The
Paralympics won't be morning finals, so I don't need to worry
too much."
In the men's event, the S9 swimmers took the hours with James
Crisp (City of Sheffield) in gold, Sean Fraser (Midlothian)
in silver and Thomas Brown (Borough of Newham) in bronze position.
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