FAST FINALS SEE FIRST SWIMMERS MEET NOMINATION CRITERIA
Britain's swimmers today took another step closer to realising
their dreams of competing at this summer's Olympic Games by
gaining some more fast times in the finals of the British
Swimming Championships (50m).
Seven of the countries top swimmers today met the nomination
criteria for this year's Olympic squad and will have their
names added to the list that will be nominated to the British
Olympic Association.
In order to make the Olympic team, athletes must finish in
first or second place in the final of their event and have
met the FINA 'A' time for that event in the heat.
The men's 400m Freestyle was the first final of the day and
saw two men in with a chance of being nominated for Team GB.
Dean Milwain (Loughborough University) went into the final
with confidence after qualifying with the fastest time for
this morning's final.
But it was David Carry (Aberdeen Dolphins) that went out
hardest in the final and after meeting the FINA 'A' time in
the heat Carry knew he had to finish in the top two spots
to keep himself in with a chance of nomination to Team GB.
Carry gained a good lead over Milwain after 100m, and continued
to dominate until the final 50m where Milwain showed a strong
finish to close the gap, but the distance proved too much
and Carry took the gold medal with a time of 3:49.78.
"I knew it was going to be hard after the way everyone
is swimming but I was pushed all the way this morning for
those Olympic spots," Carry said.
"It was a case of ignoring everything around you and
focusing on your own race, making sure you got to the wall
first. I wanted to get out there and dominate the race.
"It's great to be British Champion again and to get
that Olympic time, the team is shaping up nicely, everyone
is in great shape and it's something exciting to be a part
of."
Milwain, who also met the qualifying standard in the heats,
finished in second place with a time of 3:50.50. Bronze was
claimed by City of Aberdeen's Robert Renwick in 3:51.80.
After four people met the FINA 'A' qualifying time in the
women's 200m Butterfly, the final proved to be one of the
toughest battles of the competition so far. With all four
vying to finish in the top two spots it was only the most
focused that would prove successful in this final.
Borough of Stockton swimmer Jemma Lowe broke the British
record in the heats and looked promising going into the final.
She showed her strength in the first 100m to give herself
a lead over her closest competitors.
Ellen Gandy, who has been training for the past six months
in Australia, swam an excellent final 100m to close in on
Lowe and secure herself one of the top two spots. Lowe became
British champion after touching home in a time of 2:07.61.
Beckenham's Gandy was close behing Lowe and took the silver
medal with a time of 2:07.69.
"I did my best against a very strong field and I'm delighted
to be British Champion," Lowe said. "I couldn't
believe my record last night but I felt it today.
"I've been thinking of this for a long time now, I've
trained harder than ever before and to do so well here this
week is a great reward.
"We've all still got it to do at the Olympics but this
is a fantastic start and shows the form I'm in. I'm just so
excited about this year."
Bronze was taken by Jessica Dickons (Borough of Stockton)
in 2:10.11. After the British record was smashed in the heats
of the women's 100m Freestyle spectators were expecting more
fast times in this morning's final.
City of Liverpool's Fran Halsall touched first at the 50m
mark in 26.31 with Caitlin McClatchey, the new British record
holder, close behind touching in 26.68. The final 50m saw
both Halsall and McClatchey battling for the top spot but
it was the Loughborough University swimmer that had the edge
in the final 10m.
McClatchey touched in 54.58 to take the top spot and become
the new British champion. Halsall took the silver medal in
a time of 54.81 and bronze was taken by Julia Beckett (Loughborough
University) in 55.86.
"Today was just about making sure I qualified,"
McClatchey said. "I knew it was going to be a tough race
as everyone is swimming so well. It's a really exciting time
at the moment and I'm glad to be a part of it."
With Liam Tancock already pre-selected for the Olympic squad
in the men's 100m Backstroke there was only one spot left
for another athlete to gain nomination in the event and with
three athletes meeting the qualifying time in the heat it
proved to be a tough final for all swimmers.
Matthew Clay (Swansea Performance) qualified as the fastest
swimmer from the heats, but with Gregor Tait just behind him
all eyes were on the two experienced athletes in the final.
City of Edinburgh's Tait was the athlete that shone in the
final and after swimming an excellent 50m with a split time
of 26.44. He continued his high pace throughout and powered
home with a time of 54.22 to become the new British Champion
and secure the second place for nomination in the event.
Clay finished just behind Tait and took the silver medal
in 54.35, the bronze was taken by Marco Loughran (Guildford
City) in 54.57.
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