2003 british trials - news in brief
day 5:records tumble once again:
A quite astonishing afternoon of swimming rounded off the British Championships as two more Commonwealth records went and were swiftly followed by several British, Scottish and Welsh Records. Britain's swimmer clearly seem to have taken Bill Sweetenham's maxim of improvement to heart.
Swim of the day has to have been the women's 200 backstroke. Katy Sexton has been in imperious form this week and made no mistake with her 200m final. Sara Price may have been the favourite and indeed improved her best by over half a second, but the young Portsmouth Swimmer has been inspired this week and recorded a hugely impressive 2:09.27, her second Commonwealth record of the week. Price will surely make the journey to Barcelona as well, but will have to wait to have her selection confirmed.
The men's 100m breaststroke final lived up to its own expectations as James Gibson got his own back on Darren Mew to take the title in another Commonwealth record time of 60.47. For 90m of the race the world record looked under threat, but Gibson just faded into the wall. In the corresponding women's race, all attention had been on new British Record holder Rachel Genner. It was veteran Jaime King who took the title and the record with a time of 1:09.00. Once can only hope she maintains or improves on that form in the World Championships.
Steve Parry turned the clock back as he recorded his fastest time since early 2000 in winning the 200 fly. His 1:56.65 confirmed his selection for Barcelona. David Davies had another crack at Graeme Smith, this time over 800m, but the Scotsman strength once again took its toll. He took his third title but both swimmers will surely be on the team. Gregor Tait set a Scottish record in the 100 back, but was outside the qualifying time.
Sunday, March 23, 2003Day 4: Genner makes her mark:
The women's 100m breastroke semi finals confirmed the emergence of Coventry's Rachel Genner as the new swimmer at the top of the tree. She lowered her own British record to 1:09.01 in her semi final, but will have to repeat the feat in the final to ensure selection for Barcelona. She may well have a 1:08 swim in mind.
Rebecca Cooke confirmed her selection for the 1500m freestyle, in a time just shy of her British record for that event.
Saturday, March 22, 2003Day 4: Francis is back:
Day four of the trials saw a welcome return to form for Robin Francis. Having missed the Manchester commonwealth game through illness, he returned to something approaching his best as he took the 200IM title. He was outside the qualifying standard however and will have to improve in the Scottish nationals to make the team.
Jamie Salter bowed out in style by winning the 200m freestyle, in what was his last race. The Edinburgh swimemr is hanging up his fastskin after an impressive career, which included two Olympics and a 6th placed finish in the 200m in Sydney. Mark Foster took the 50m fly title from 100m champion Todd Cooper.
The big names all came safely through the 100m breastroke semi finals in the men's event to set up what will be a superb final tomorrow. Steve Parry and James Hickman will also renew their rivalry over 200 fly, both having qualified comfortably tonight.
Saturday, March 22, 2003news: those records keep on falling:
It was business as usual for Sarah Price on day 3 of the British Championships in Sheffield. having seen her 3 year unbeaten domestic run brought to an end by Katy Sexton yesterday, Price returned to her customary number 1 spot with yet another British record in the 50m backstroke. Sexton pushed her all the way again, but the Barnet swimmer had enough strength to hold on for the title in 29.03.
Another backstroke record came in the men's 200m final. James Goddard had broken the 8 year old record din the semi's but went even faster tonight recording 1:548.65. Gregor Tait set his second Scottish record in the event in second place.
The main event was undoubtedly the men's 1500m final. Cardiff's David Davies set a Welsh record in pushing World Championship silver medallist Graeme Smith all the way to the wire ,. The experience of the Scotsman brought him home in a 15:05.44, assuring world championship selection. Earlier in the session he had kept up his hopes of a 4x200 relay spot in qualifying for Saturday's final.
Elsewhere, Darren Mew got the upper hand in the 50m breastroke final and Karen Pickering the 200m freestyle title in what was a slightly disappointing time of 2:00.39, well off the qualifying standard. Jaime King retained her 200m breaststroke title in 2.29.27.
Friday, March 21, 2003news: shocks and records on day 2:
Shocks and records were the order of the day on the second night of finals at Ponds Forge as the British team of the Barcelona World championships begins to take shape. An inspired performance from Katy Sexton, clearly reaping the benefit of an uninterrupted winter's training, saw her break Sarah Price's monopoly on British backstroke records and titles. She took the 100m crown in a hugely impressive British and Commonwealth record time of 1:00.49, the sixth best all time performance for the event. Price had to be content with a PB of 1:00.77, also under the old record in second.
A British record performance also came from James Goddard, who lowered the 8 year old standard for the 200m backstroke to 1:58.97 in qualifying fastest for tomorrow's final ahead of a Scottish record form Gregor Tait in second. A further Scottish record was set in the 200 breaststroke where Ian edmond came close to taking Nick Gillingham's British Record. The second major shock came in the men's 100m fly where a Scottish record was enough for Todd Cooper to beat hot favourite James Hickman into second place.
Elsewhere three of the favourites won their finals as Zoe Baker, Alison Sheppard and Rebecca Cooke won the 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle and 800m freestyle respectively. Chris Cozens also repeated his sub 50s feat in the final of the 100 free, recording 49.90, just shy of the qualifying standard.
Thursday, March 20, 2003news:
Graeme Smith became the first name on the team sheet for Barcelona as he won the 400 freestyle final in 3.49.71. David Davies was third behind Adam Faulkner in the silver medal position. Sarah Price set a commonwealth record of 1:00.94 in the 100 back semi's, but had to ensure being fastest through to the final - Katy Sexton had swum 1.01.08, just 2 one-hundredths off Price's previous records. Chris Cozens produced another highlight, becoming only the second British man under 50s in the 100 free, recording 49.92 in his semi. He'll have to swim faster to be sure of selection however.
Wednesday, March 19, 2003news:
David Davies looked very easy qualifying for the 400m freestyle final. Katy Sexton was another swimmer to impress in the first morning's heats as she qualified for the 100m backstroke semi's.
Wednesday, March 19, 2003