carry leads the way in swansea

David Carry smashed his personal best over 400m freestyle and set a new Scottish record on his way to qualification for the World Championships on the first day of competition at the Stage 3 Selection meet in Swansea. The Scot was one of three new names to be added to the team sheet ahead of next month’s competition in Montreal.
Carry posted 3:48.96, his first time under 3:50, to easily win the 400m final and was on British record pace for much of the race. That record will have to wait for another day, but Carry was delighted to have secured his place in Montreal. “People have been telling me I have what it takes for the 400m.” he said “I really believe that now and am looking forward to Montreal.”
It was a great night for Carry’s Loughborough University team who confirmed several swimmers onto the British squad. Chief amongst those was Melanie Marshall, whose time of 1:58.25, to scrape under the required standard. She was followed home by Jo Jackson, who narrowly failed to break the 2 minute barrier with 2:00.06. That time did however ensure that Britain will be represented by a 4x200m freestyle team, where Marshall and Jackson will be joined by Caitlin McClatchey and Julia Beckett.
The final new name on the list was Newcastle’s Chris Cook, who took out the 50m breaststroke title in 28.03. Coming off the back of his performances in the recent Mare Nostrum series, Cook will now fancy his chances in the 100m event later in the weekend. “I’ve been enjoying my racing in Europe” Cook said afterward “My idea was to get faster and faster until we arrived in Swansea and it worked tonight.”
Another Loughborough swimmer to realise her potential was Kate Haywood, who put her trial disappointment behind her to swim 1:08.28 and confirm her place on in the 100m breaststroke to go with her qualification in the 50m event. Haywood has been consistently under 1:09 this season but was finally able to put the swim together when it mattered as she comfortably swam under the qualification standard.
Haywood may also be able to swim a medley relay in Montreal following Ros Brett’s gutsy performance in the 100m fly. her time of 59.88 was only marginally outside the British record but was good enough to squeeze the foursome under the qualifying time.
There was no such luck for Mark Foster, who missed out in the 50m butterfly, or Katy Sexton who was off the pace over 100m backstroke. the 2003 champion over 200m backstroke still has another chance in that event however, while Foster must now take his chance in the 50m freestyle.