James Goddard equalled the British record over 100m backstroke in Manchester last night as he joined James Gibson and Kirsty Balfour on the team for the Montreal World Championships. Goddard recorded a time of 54.90 to win the event ahead of Loughborough’s Liam Tancock and fellow British record holder Gregor Tait. Meanwhile Rebecca Cooke set a new British record in the 400IM.

Balfour upset new British Record holder Kate Haywood in the final of the 100m breaststroke, posting a new personal best and Scottish record of 1:08.67 to catapult her onto the squad, while the final place went to defending world champion James Gibson who comfortably won the 50m breaststroke in a time of 28.02. He will need to qualify in an Olympic event as well however, to ensure he can take up his place.
Cooke’s swim on 4:46.54 for the 400m medley lowered her own British Record, but was almost 4 seconds outside the required qualification standard.
Elsewhere there were some surprises, but no other qualifying times were achieved. Gemma Spofforth upset the form book in the Ladies’ 100m backstroke, defeating Sarah Price for take her first national title, while Lizzie Simmonds pushed world silver medalist Katy sexton back into 4th place.
Mark Foster took the 50m fly title, Chris Cozens the 100m freestyle and Terri Dunning touched out Ros Brett to take the women’s 100m fly, but all were outside the required selection times
More encouraging was the form of Melanie Marshall who progressed to the final of the 200m freestyle in a time of 1:59.20. She was followed by Caitlin McClatchey who set a Scottish record in dipping under the 2 minute mark for the first time in 1:59.99.