MILEY CLAIMS WORLD SILVER
Britain's Hannah Miley became the second fastest woman in
the world after claiming the silver medal in the final of
the women's 400m Individual Medley on the first day of the
World Swimming Championships (25m) in Manchester.
The 18-year-old swam an excellent race from the start positioning
herself just behind Olympic medallist Kirsty Coventry.
Coventry was turning well inside world record time and Miley
kept up with that pace throughout. After breaking the British
record in this morning's heats Miley looked well on track
to lower it once again with her impressive swim.
The Zimbabwe world medallist smashed the world record on
her way to the gold medal after touching in a time of 4:26.52.
Miley, who also swam within the previous world standard time,
broke the 26-year-old European record and after also taking
two seconds off her personal best time claimed the silver
medal in 4:27.27.
"I can't wipe the smile off my face," Miley said.
"It is my first international medal and to better the
previous record is fantastic. To be in that final with Kirsty
and be a part of a new world record is an honour.
"It is never easy to know where you are in the medley
but I was trying to get close to her and I am delighted with
the performance."
The women's 4x100m Freestyle saw the British contingent claim
their second silver medal of the event with a strong performance
from the team in a world record breaking final.
Joanne Jackson began the race for Britain and gave the girls
a good lead going into the second leg. Mel Marshall swam well
to keep the girls in with a chance of a medal in the tough
race.
The team were in third place going into the third leg but
Caitlin McClatchey swam an excellent leg to put the athletes
in a strong position ahead of Australia.
Rebecca Adlington swam an impressive final leg as she began
closing in on the leaders, the Netherlands, as she entered
the final 25m she looked to have claimed the victory for the
home nation but just missed out on the gold by 0.06 seconds.
"We have moved that event on a lot," Jackson said.
"That was a great race with the top three well under
the world record. We gave it our best and are very proud."
"We are definitely stronger long course and we'll be
looking to show that in Beijing," Marshall added.
"I tried so hard to catch the Dutch," Adlington
said. "Everything was hurting but in the end it was just
too much to claw back."
The Netherlands claimed the gold medal and broke the world
record in a time of 7:38.90, while Britain took the silver
in a time of 7:38.90, which was also within the previous record
time.
The bronze went to Australia's team who finished in a time
of 7:39.01.
British swimmer Jessica Dickons claimed the first medal of
the day for the British team in the final of the women's 200m
Butterfly.
Dickons had a disappointing start but fought back hard to
over take club-mate Jemma Lowe to take the third place in
the last 50m in this evening's final.
The gold medal went to America's Mary Descenza in 2:04.27,
while silver went to Felicity Galvez (Australia) in a time
of 2:04.90. Dickons touched in 2:05.09 to claim her bronze
medal - her second senior international medal.
Dickons also smashed the British record that Lowe had set
in this morning's heats.
"That felt much better," Dickons said. "I
didn't swim to my best at the British Championships last week
but that was great. It was a big competition for me and to
get a medal is amazing. I hope it is the first of many and
the record topped it all off."
The men's 200m Freestyle saw Britain's David Carry suffer
from a disappointing start as he was unable to make up the
distance between him and the Australian pair of Kenrick Monk
and Erin Reilly.
Carry finished in 7th place in this evening's final in a
time of 1:46.29.
"I dived off the block and my back foot got caught and
scraped along it," he said. "I was always struggling
to get back into the race after that. The second you get behind
in that race the waves get so big.
"The dive's normally one of the best aspects of my race
but I simply slipped tonight. I was really up for that race
and I thought I could look to the podium."
This evening's semi-finals saw four swimmers produce excellent
performances to make it through to tomorrow night's finals.
The women's 50m Breaststroke saw Kate Haywood swim well to
keep up with Australia's Jade Edminstone and swim a personal
best time to make it into the final.
"That was another personal best in a very fast semi-final,"
Haywood said. "I am happy to be there tomorrow and I
would love that British record."
Liam Tancock swam well in the men's 100m Backstroke semi-final
to proceed to the final tomorrow, he finished in fourth place
in his heat in a time of 51.50.
"I am pleased to make it through to tomorrow's final,"
he said. "I knew this event was going to be hard. There
are some fast guys and short course is very choppy. I am looking
forward to the final. I just want to get that rhythm going."
The women's 100m Backstroke semi-final saw Elizabeth Simmonds
swim better than the heat to finish in third place to qualify
for the final tomorrow.
"I felt flat and cold this morning but that was much
better. I had a target to just go faster and that is what
I did out that which was great. The final will be better tomorrow
I am sure of that.
James Gibson swam well in his semi-final in the men's 100m
Breaststroke as he qualified for the final.
"I am going to give them a great fight tomorrow,"
Gibson said. "I am in the best shape of my career. It
is great to be here, the atmosphere is amazing. Manchester
is very special to me after my Commonwealth win."
Both Michael Rock and Matt Bowe swam personal best times
in the semi-finals of the men's 100m Butterfly. Rock finished
his heat in a time of 51.63 and Bowe touched in 51.95.
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