SWIMMERS CLOSE IN ON OLYMPIC GOAL
Britain's top swimmers continued to take a step closer to
the Beijing Olympics after seven swimmers met the FINA 'A'
qualifying time in this evening's heats at the British Swimming
Championships (50m).
The men's 1,500m Freestyle saw two athletes meet the qualifying
time, they must now go into the final to battle over the number
one spot. Since David Davies (City of Cardiff) is already
pre-selected in the event there is only one place left in
Team GB.
Hatfield's Richard Charlesworth was the first swimmer to
achieve the qualifying time after winning his with a large
lead. He touched in a time of 15:09.97 to qualify as the fastest
athlete for the final.
The last heat saw Daniel Fogg (Loughborough University) win
by a large margin to meet the vital time after finishing in
15:11.70.
The women's 200m Backstroke saw four athletes meet the FINA
'A' qualifying time. However it was Elizabeth Simmonds (Lincoln
Vulcans) that stole the show in the final heat with an impressive
performance as she touched just inside the British record.
Simmonds held a good lead throughout the race and turned
for her final 50m swimming excellently to touch in a time
of 2:08.79 to qualify as the fastest athlete for tomorrow's
final.
Portsmouth's Gemma Spofforth also swam a strong heat to meet
the vital time after touching in 2:09.71. Stephanie Proud
(Chester le Street) also met the qualifying time in 2:10.46.
Georgia Davies (Swansea Performance) swam in 2:12.28 to keep
herself in with a chance of qualification.
Ross Davenport became the only swimmer to meet the qualifying
time in the men's 100m Freestyle after he showed his strength
through the water to touch at the 50m first and keep his lead
to touch in a time of 49.12.
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