Wednesday 31 March 2010

British Gas Swimming Championships 2010 - Day 3 Finals

Finals get underway at 6pm British time. Reports will be up a few minutes after the races finish.

Mens 200m LC Backstroke Final

James Goddard took victory in a tight 200m Back duel. Goddard did not lead second placed finisher Christopher Walker-Webborn by more than 0.17 during the race and took victory in 1:57.06. Walker-Hebborn finished second in a strong time of 1:57.39. The times put Goddard and Walker-Hebborn second and third in the world this year, both faster than Australian champion Hayden Stoeckel (1:58.04). Scott Hathaway took third in 2:00.57.

Womens 100m LC Freestyle Final

Fran Halsall was made to fight for her win in the 100m Free holding off a strong challenge from Amy Smith. Halsall took the victory in 54.71 with Smith second in a personal best time of 54.86. Lucy Ellis took third in 55.76.

Halsall has a busy few minutes with the 100m Fly semis coming up in just a few minutes.

Mens 100m LC Freestyle Semi-Finals

Arizone based Simon Burnett qualified fastest for tomorrow nights final in a time of 49.46. Ross Davenport goes into the final ranked second with a time of 49.97. Winner of the first semi-final Craig Gibbons qualified third fastest in a time of 50.19. Gibbons overhauled Adam Brown, fresh from his third place finish at NCAA's, who qualified fifth fastest in a time of 50.36.

Womens 100m LC Butterfly Semi-Finals

Ellen Gandy looked in top form as she qualified fastest in the 100m Fly with a time of 58.91. Florida Gator Jemma Lowe qualified second in a time of 59.35 with Rachel Kelly third fastest. Kelly broke the 1-minute barrier for the first time with her 59.86 effort. Fran Halsall, who was late to the blocks after believing she would have more time before her swim, qualified safely in sixth with a time of 1:00.93.

Womens 200m LC Breaststroke Final

Stacey Tadd caused an upset in the 200m Breast with a come from behind victory over Hannah Miley. Tadd was 0.88 down on Miley at the 100m mark before coming back to win in a time of 2:29.66. Miley took second in 2:30.27 with Kate Hutchinson third in 2:31.09.

Mens 50m LC Butterfly Final

Ian Hulme won the 50m Fly in a time of 24.22. James Doolan took second in 24.51 with Jamie Thorpe third in 24.65. Hulme's time puts him 15th in the world this year. Should he make the Commonwealth team and swim this event he will come up against Geoff Huegill who leads the world this year with his time of 23.46.

Womens 100m LC Backstroke Final

The women's 100m Back was the night's most anticipated event with world champion and world record holder Gemma Spofforth taking on world ranked no.2 Lizzie Simmonds. Simmonds had the better start and led at the 50m. Spofforth came back strongly on the second 50m but came up just short with Simmonds winning in 59.43 and Spofforth second in 59.46. Simmonds remains number 2 in the world with Spofforth moving up to 3rd. Both women remain 0.2 seconds behind Emily Seebohm's 59.21 set at the Australian trials. Stephanie Proud took third in 1:01.30.

Interestingly Seebohm and Simmonds both split 28.99 at the 50m mark on the way to their best times this year. Spofforth came back faster than both of them. The 100m Back at Commonwealths is shaping up to be one of the stand-out races with three of the strongest female backstrokers in the world right now.

Seebohm - 28.99 - (30.22) 59.21
Simmonds - 28.99 - (30.44) 59.43
Spofforth - 29.31 - (30.15) 59.46


Mens 100m LC Breaststroke Final

Kris Gilchrist caused a shock in the 100m Breast final with a strong finish to win in a time of 1:01.22. Michael Jamieson made it a Scotland 1-2 finishing second in 1:01.24. Richard Webb took third in 1:01.37. Pre-race favourites Darren Mew (1:01.51) and Daniel Sliwinski (1:01.66) took fourth and fifth respectively.

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