SEXTON BACK FOR BRITISH TITLE
Former world champion Katie Sexton made her first steps on
the comeback trail to win gold in the 100m Backstroke at the
British Swimming Championships in Manchester.
The 24-year-old from Portsmouth has been blighted by illness
and injury since winning 200m Backstroke gold in Barcelona
four years ago, but showed she is still a force to be reckoned
with as she swam to the backstroke title in 1:02.66.
Welsh record holder Georgia Davies (Swansea) posed a threat
in the early stages of the race, but couldn't hold on the
full 100m and Sexton's experience showed as she eased home
to victory. Davies was just outside her best to touch for
silver in 1:03.85 and French visitor Alexianne Castel won
bronze in 1:03.96.
Sexton was delighted to put in such a strong performance
and was encouraged by her time.
"I didn't expect to go that fast, especially in the
morning," she said. "I've been going faster each
round and the semi finals and finals were both early so it's
really good. It's not even 9am yet.
"I'm a couple of seconds off my best, but that was a
good swim. I was surprised how fast I was and hopefully I
can lower my times as the year goes on.
"I feel I've got to prove myself. I'm still the best-timed
backstroker in the country, but the last few years haven't
been consistent for me because of illness and injury. I need
to make people remember they've got to race me too."
A Welsh contingent has shown they are making major steps
forward in the world of swimming as another record fell to
the Celts. Borough of Stockton's Jemma Lowe dipped under the
minute mark in the 100m Butterfly for the second time this
Championship to set a new Welsh record for gold in 59.78 seconds.
Louise Pate (Heart of Midlothian) sealed silver on the touch
in 60.96 and 50m Champion Ellen Gandy (Beckenham) was two
hundredths of a second behind for bronze.
"I'm really pleased," beamed Lowe. "I've been
waiting to go under a minute for ages. I did it in the heats,
and then I've lowered that time again today.
"I hoped I could do it this morning, but I wasn't feeling
particularly good in the warm-up. I just tried to ignore that
though and get on with it.
"This meet is a good opportunity for me to race on my
own as the other guys are out in Melbourne and I'm not qualifying
for anything. I've got to focus now on getting my times down
to qualify for Beijing next year."
Multi-Paralympian Nyree Lewis was named British Champion
in the MD 50m Backstroke, after setting a new world record
of 43.58 seconds in yesterday's heats. This morning, the Leominster
swimmer was within the previous mark held by Holland's Mirjam
de Koning, taking gold in 43.79 seconds. City of Oxford's
Danielle Watts was next closest to her respective world record
for silver in 1:25.38 and Thornbury's Kate Grey set a British
record for bronze in 37.05.
"I'm in heavy training at the moment so I'm really surprised
to do a decent swim," said Lewis. "Last night, I
knew I was capable of a good time but it's difficult to repeat
that in the morning.
"I used to hold the 50m Backstroke record and it's good
to get it back. I now hold all three backstroke world records."
British Offshore Centre swimmer Chris Alderton was delighted
to medal in the 1500m Freestyle, taking silver behind Frenchman
Anthony Pannier in 15.35.80. Having adapted his stroke since
last summer, Alderton was pleased to make the podium while
testing his stroke for the first time in competition. Southport
School team mate Richard Charlesworth won bronze in 15:39.53.
"I'm very pleased," said Alderton. "I've not
been swimming too well this week so I didn't really know what
to expect this morning. I knew Pannier would go out on his
own and so I'd have to focus on my own race.
"I've made a lot of changes to my stroke over the last
six months and this is the first competition where I've implemented
my new technique. It's been going well in training but trying
to do it in a race is a different matter. There's a long way
to go, but I'm getting there.
"My time wasn't important here. Doing the whole 1500m
in my new technique is what makes me proud."
In the 200m Butterfly, Loughborough swimmer Joe Roebuck took
gold but was disappointed not to make the qualification standard
for the World University Games. Roebuck took the title from
lane two, touching home in 1:59.30. Michael Rock (Everton)
won silver in 60.16 and Andrew Mayor (City of Newcastle) won
bronze in 60.85.
Broxburn's Jim Anderson (S2) won gold in the MD 50m Backstroke,
while Sascha Kindred (Leominster) and Liz Johnson (Swansea)
secured titles in the men's and women's MD 100m Breaststroke.
With Britain's senior athletes away at the World Championships
in Melbourne, French swimmers took the honours in the women's
200m Breaststroke, women's 200m Individual Medley and both
200m Freestyle events.
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