WATKIN CLAIMS EUROPEAN RECORD
Kelly College swimmer Louise Watkin smashed the European
record in the S9 category on the final day of the British
International Disability Swimming Championships in Sheffield.
The women's 100m Freestyle saw both Watkin and Francesca
O'Connor take records on the final day of the competition.
Watkin swam an excellent race as she looked strong from the
start and when she touched in a time of 1:05.15 she lowered
the European record and claimed the silver medal with a total
of 824 points.
"I was aiming for the European record going into that
event," Watkins said. "I was really close to it
at the British Championships so I wanted to come here and
take it.
"I have tapered for this competition because we knew
I could go and get that record. My coach has really helped
me to stay focused and make sure that I knew what I had to
do."
The gold medal went to Heather Frederiksen (City of Salford),
who has impressed throughout the competition, in a time of
1:09.83 with a total of 946 points in the S8 category.
Bronze was taken by Leominster's Nyree Lewis in a time of
1:23.21 with a total of 806 points in the S6 category.
Wyre Forest swimmer O'Connor took her second British of the
day, after first lowering the record in the heat and she went
into the final hungry for more success.
O'Connor went out hard and touched in a time of 1:19.62 to
claim the new British record in the S7 classification.
"Before this competition my personal best time was 1:22
and I just went 1:19 which is quite a significant drop,"
O'Connor said. "It felt good out there but I missed the
qualification time. My coach and I didn't expect to achieve
the time it seemed just outside of my reach but my times are
dropping and my performances are going in the right direction.
"Overall I am really pleased with how the weekend has
gone for me, I have achieved new PBs and British records so
I really can't complain."
The men's 100m Butterfly saw Greenwich Borough's Dervis Konuralp
secure the British record after a strong performance.
Konuralp swam an excellent first 50m and turned in the lead,
his final 50m finished off an impressive race and he touched
in a time of 1:02.15 to lower the British record.
The 28-year-old took the silver medal after claiming 923
points in the S13 category.
"It is great to get that record," Konuralp said.
"It is a real testament to all of the hard work I have
put in. I just hope that I have done justice to the amount
of support I have received from my coach and my family have
given me.
"Gaining the qualification time has definitely given
me a confidence boost and I am now going to enter a solid
block of training which I hope will give me a good foundation
as I work towards future competitions."
Nova Centurion's Sam Hynd topped off an excellent weekend
with another British record to add to his already impressive
tally.
Hynd performed excellently in his heat of the men's 100m
Freestyle as he lowered the British record in the S8 category
with a time of 1:02.16.
He took to the final looking confident and had an excellent
start and after an impressive turn Hynd touched in a time
of 1:02.55 as he claimed the silver medal.
"I am tired now but to be getting these results when
I am fatigued and in heavy training is really positive,"
Hynd said. "I have lowered my own British record after
not training sprints so there are many positive things to
take from that performance."
The gold medal was claimed by the impressive David Roberts,
who swims in the S7 category, with a time of 1:02.05 and a
total of 981 points.
Bronze went to Matt Walker from Marple with a time of 1:04.59
and a total of 870 points in the S7 category.
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