budapest2006

relay boys set for tilt at gold

A successful heats session for Britain came to an end with the men’s 4x200m freestyle team cruising into the final as second fastest qualifiers behind Italy but more than a second ahead of third placed Greece. The final look set to be a straight shoot out between Britain and Italy, with both teams likely to bring out the big guns for the evening session.
The Italians will be strengthened by the return of Masii Rosolino and Filippo Magnini, both individual medallists, while Britain will bring back Simon Burnett and David Carry to join two of this morning’s team – Euan Dale, Robbie Renwick, Andrew Hunter and Ross Davenport. Commonwealth Champion Davenport is assured of his place and on paper Renwick, who only missed out on the semi-finals in the individual event on the two per nation rule, would make up the quartet, but Hunter was the fastest in this morning’s heats. Whatever the line up a thrilling final is in prospect, with a real chance for a second British Gold.
Meanwhile, European Junior Champion Jess Dickons led the qualifiers for the 200m butterfly with team-mate Terri Dunning fourth. Rebecca Shaw was 12th and misses out on the two per nation rule. Kate Haywood was another impressive qualifier coming through the 50m breaststroke heats in second place
Elsewhere, Simon Burnett qualified for the semi-finals of the 50m freestyle, a feat matched by Fran Halsall in the ladies event, the duo finishing 12th and 13th this morning.