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12/09/2002: BSC day 1 heats: No problems for Foster or Parry
There were no big surprises on the first morning of this year’s British Short Course Championships in Cambridge, but the session gave some of Britain’s commonwealth team the chance to demonstrate their form in the lead up to the short course season. All of the favourites came through their respective heats, but there were plenty of appearances from swimmers in less familiar events.
First up was the men’s 50 free, with breastroke specialist James Gibson having the honour of being the first competitor from Manchester to take to the water. He comfortably though to the semis in 24.04, but will not be expecting to win, with Mark Foster and Matthew Kidd both looking impressively easy as they qualified for the semi finals tonight.
It was a quick fire start to the session as the women’s 50 breastroke took centre stage. There was no Zoë Baker, but Kate Haywood looked in good shape, finishing just outside her own British Junior record and easily qualifying for tonight’s finals. Fastest entrant Emma Robinson, form University of Bath also qualified with ease.
The men’s 200 medley heats saw many swimmers with specialists in other departments taking part. Manchester bronze medallist Adrian Turner looked comfortable as he qualified for the final tonight, but Steve Parry, Michael Cole and Simon Militis all looked easy as they went through. The final heat saw a City of Edinburgh 1-2-3 as Michael Cole led Ian Edmond and David Leith through to the final.
Women’s backstroke was on of Britain’s best events in Manchester, and the 100m heats here saw top British Women Sarah Price back in the swing of things, looking supremely comfortable as she swept into the semis tonight. Manchester bronze medallist Katy Sexton also won her heat, but she was pushed hard by junior star Stephanie Proud who will have high hopes of making a big impression on this event. The final heat also saw a rejuvenated Helen Don Duncan book her place in the semis whilst Melanie Marshall, concentrating on the backstroke events here was also safely through.
The men’s 200 backstroke heats went to form as James Goddard Simon Militis and Steve Parry booked their places for tonight’s final, with Nova’s Nathan Oxford producing an outstanding heat swim, as he demolished the rest of his field to win by a convincing margin. He goes into the final tonight as the 2nd qualifier behind Parry who led the way in 1:58.47, the only time under 2 minutes.
With Parry busy in other events, James Hickman had the 100 fly virtually to himself, as he led the qualifiers In the women’s 200m event, in the absence of British numbers 1 and two Georgina Lee, who has a shoulder injury, and Margie Peddar, it was left to Terri Dunning and Sarah Pyne to head the finalists for tonight. Dunning set a promising time of 2.16.31 in the heats but will probably have to improve to maintain her position tonight.
The men’s breastroke was again a walk in the park for the big boys as Gison, Mew, Whitehead and Edmond all came though. Newcastle's Chris Cook was tidy coming in 3rd and Ayrshire’s 15 year old Mark Branch, a junior British record holder also into the semis. The women’s 200 IM was led home by Jo Mullins, with Nova’ Kathryn Evan her nearest qualifier. No holly fox in this one so Mullins and Evans look set to battle it out for the title.
Jamie Salter and Gavin meadows renewed an old rivalry in eh 400 freestyle heats, as they and Adam Faulkner went out hard over the first 200. Salter’s strength showed through as he led the three home, although they all qualified for the final. They’ll be joined Scotland’s by Graeme Smith who came through his heat with comparative ease. Nova’s 18 year old Paul Webster gave Andrew Jameson a fright in his heat taking it out very hard to come home in 3.59.37. Jameson missed out on the final. Webster will have a tough job to make the European short course qualifying time of 3:52.92 in tonight’s final however.
Which brings us to the final event of the session, the women’s 100m free. Plenty of quality on show here, as Alison Sheppard and Ros Brett has a fight for the top qualifiers spot. In the end they both made it through easily with GB team-mates Karens Pickering and Legg. Junior Vicky Cook from Hatfield has her eyes set on a place in the European team but will need a 56.41 to book her place.