RELAY TAKES GOLD IN NEW EUROPEAN RECORD TIME
Britain's relay women swept to gold on the final night of
the European Championships in Eindhoven and with it added
their name into the record books.
The 100m Medley quartet of Lizze Simmonds (Lincoln Vulcans),
Kate Haywood (Loughborough University), Jemma Lowe (Borough
of Stockton) and Fran Halsall (City of Liverpool) smashed
the European Record as they overcame the best on the continent.
Britain took gold in 3:59.33 to better the previous standard
of 4:01.54, set in 2002 by Germany, with Russia taking the
silver in 4:00.47 and the Netherlands the bronze in 4:04.41.
"To be honest I wasn't expecting a performance like
that," said Haywood. "We're absolutely thrilled.
We were quick this morning after we decided just to give it
a go but to get the gold and the record tonight is encouraging
for the year.
"We only arrived yesterday and aren't prepared for this
meet as we're all focused on trying to make the Olympic team
at the British Championships next week.
"We felt we had nothing to lose and that's the way we
attacked the race. A lot of those swimmers are rested for
this event so to take the gold is fantastic."
All four swimmers have come through Britain's youth development
pathway and can add tonight's result to their own individual
medals gained at European Junior level over the past five
years.
Simmonds, who won four gold medals at last year's Junior
Europeans, was delighted to secure her first senior title.
"I enjoyed that so much," said Simmonds. "It
was so exciting to be a part of something so successful. I
enjoyed going first because I got to see such an amazing race
as it developed and we came home for the gold."
"I love racing as part of a team, there's pressure on
you to perform for your team mates but that's something that
I enjoy and it motivates me."
Britain's men finished seventh in the final of 4x100m Medley
Relay with Matt Clay (Swansea Performance), Kris Gilchrist
(City of Edinburgh), Michael Rock (Stockport Metro) and ben
Hockin (Swansea Performance) finishing in 3:38.40.
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