ADLINGTON SLASHES COMMONWEALTH RECORD
Rebecca Adlington became the fastest swimmer in the world
over 800m this year after smashing a 19-year-old Commonwealth
record at the British Swimming Championships (50m).
The Nova Centurion swimmer already broke the 400m Freestyle
Commonwealth record this week and went into the women's 800m
Freestyle heats hungry to gain more records to add to her
impressive total throughout the competition.
World Open Water silver medallist Cassie Patten kept up with
Adlington's fast pace over the first 200m but the Commonwealth
record holder showed her desire for more pool success and
pulled away from Patten at the 300m mark.
Adlington, who has been showing her excellent form throughout
the week, carved out a lead of almost six seconds at 500m
and turned well within the Commonwealth record at 700m.
She kept up her pace and touched home in 8:19.22 to become
one of only six women in the world to swim under 8 minutes
20 seconds.
"I never thought about getting that time," Adlington
said. "It was only a heat swim and I just wanted to make
the qualifying time. I don't know how I did it but to go that
fast is amazing I just never thought I could do it.
"My coach and I discussed breaking the British record
earlier this week and he was going to signal me if I slipped
off the pace. I didn't see any signs but I didn't think I
would go sub 8.30. To beat a 19-year-old record is amazing
and to get so close to the best in the world is frightening.
I still have it all to do on Saturday. It will be a tight
final and I know nothing is guaranteed."
Three other athletes also made the FINA 'A' qualifying time
through the heats. Cassie Patten, who finished second in Adlington's
heat, secured her time of 8:32.35. Rebecca Cooke (City of
Glasgow) finished in 8:35.34 and Joanne Jackson (Derwentside)
touched in 8:35.93.
Thomas Haffield (City of Cardiff) went into the men's 400m
Individual Medley looking confident as he took to the pool-deck,
he took the lead early on and commanded his own pace throughout.
The European Junior Medallist Haffield extended his lead
with an excellent freestyle leg and touched in 1:12.59 to
not only meet the FINA 'A' time but to also shave three seconds
off Justin Norris' four-year-old Commonwealth record.
"I'm in shock, I can't believe that time," Haffield
said. "I was hoping to go 4.14 but to go lower is unbelievable.
Its only half the job done though, I've got to come 1st or
2nd tomorrow. I didn't come here to break records, I came
to make the Olympic team."
The final heat saw two other swimmers meet the qualifying
time, Loughborough University team-mates Euan Dale and Joe
Roebuck swam length for length in the heat until Dale pulled
slightly ahead in the final 10m.
Dale touched first in 4:18.01 and Roebuck finished in 4:18.04.
Borough of Stockton swimmer Jemma Lowe continued to prove
her dominance in the Butterfly events by claiming her second
British record at the British Swimming Championships (50m)
Lowe was swimming in the final heat and had to watch her
closest rivals performances before she could take to the blocks.
City of Birmingham's Terri Dunning was the first to make the
FINA 'A' time after winning her heat in 59.19.
Fran Halsall (City of Liverpool), who was taking part in
her second race of the day, went out quickly and broke Lowe's
British record in 58.44 and became the second swimmer to meet
the time.
Lowe, who had seen the speed of both Dunning and Halsall,
knew that pride was at stake and was pushed on to swim a fast
time in her heat. She went out hard for the first 50m and
gave herself a lead over Beckenham's Ellen Gandy. Lowe touched
in 57.78 to re-claim her British record and secure her qualifying
time.
"That was brilliant," Lowe said. "I'm feeling
very confident at the moment, I've done the work and it's
showing in my results. Seeing Fran break my record made me
race quicker tonight and its great to get it back."
Gandy also met the time after touching second with a time
of 58.73.
The men's 100m Butterfly saw the British record lowered twice
in two heats as Todd Cooper (Stirling Swimming) and Michael
Rock (Stockport Metro) fought to secure their vital qualifying
times.
Cooper was the first to break the record after winning his
heat and securing a time of 52.43. Rock went out fast in his
heat and held the lead throughout the race to finish in a
time of 52.28 and break Cooper's two minute old record.
"I wasn't looking for a record tonight and I am very
surprised I went out there quicker than usual," Rock
said. "I normally look to turn it on in the back end
and it came together well this evenings."
Swansea Performance's Matthew Bowe also met the qualifying
time with a time of 52.81.
The men's 200m Breaststroke saw two men meet the FINA 'A'
qualifying time after Kris Gilchrist (City of Edinburgh) and
James Kirton (City of Sheffield) won their heats.
Kirton, swimming in heat 5, went out very quickly from the
blocks and with the home crowd willing him on to achieve the
vital time. He carved out an excellent lead in the final 25m
and touched home in 2:12.93.
World Championship swimmer Gilchrist showed his experience
in his heat to qualify as the fastest man for the final after
winning his heat in a time of 2:10.82.
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