2016 British Olympic Trials: Day Four Finals Live Recap

2016 BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS/OLYMPIC TRIALS

*Note on Finals Session: The schedule of events will feature three finals – a senior final targeted at the Rio Olympics and European Championships in London, a Target Tokyo Final for potential additions to the European Championship in London and a Junior Final for those looking to qualify for the European Junior Championships in Hungary. For the purposes of this article’s context, we will be reporting on the ‘senior final’ of each event.

If the first place swimmer does not meet or exceed that qualifying time, then the athlete may be considered for selection as long as he/she falls within 2% of the 2nd time listed by each event. Runners-up also must be within 2% of the 2nd qualification time in order to be considered for selection. You can read more about the policy here.

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE

  • British Record – 2:07.30, Ross Murdoch (2014)
  • 1st Place OLY Standard – 2:08.52
  • Consideration time – 2:10.45

To say that Adam Peaty went for it in this race would be an understatement. The world record holder in the 50 and 100 breaststroke took the first 50 meters in a time of 27.73, a second and a half ahead of the field. He held that lead at the halfway point turning in a time of 1:00.68. To say that Peaty faded in the last half of the race would be an understatement. He eventually put up a split of 1:11.03 in the final 100 meters ultimately finishing sixth in a time of 2:11.71.

Andrew Willis turned second behind Peaty at the 100 meter mark splitting a 1:02.19. Willis, who finished fourth in the event at the World Championships in Kazan, took over the lead at the 150 meter mark and would not relinquish it, winning the event in a time of 2:08.08.

Willis’ time is under the Olympic qualifying time of 2:08.52, which means he will be swimming the 200 breaststroke at his second consecutive Olympic Games.

In somewhat of a surprise Craig Benson finished second in a time of 2:09.07. Benson finished under the consideration time of 2:10.45.

2014 Commonwealth Games champion and British record holder Ross Murdoch finished third in a time of 2:09.16.

  1. Andrew Willis – 2:08.08
  2. Craig Benson – 2:09.07
  3. Ross Murdoch – 2:09.16
  4. James Wilby – 2:10.19
  5. Michael Jamieson – 2:10.55
  6. Adam Peaty – 2:11.71
  7. Robert Hoderness – 2:13.29
  8. Calum Tait – 2:13.53

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE

  • British Record – 52.87, Fran Halsall (2009)
  • 1st Place OLY Standard – 53.68
  • Consideration Time – 53.89

Siobhan-Marie O’Connor took women’s 100 freestyle touching 35 one-hundredths of a second ahead of British record holder Fran Halsall. O’Connor won the event in a time of 54.18 was 37 one-hundredths of a second off her lifetime best of 53.81, which she posted at the 2015 British Championships.

Halsall hit the wall in a time of 54.53. The fastest Halsall has been since 2012 is a 53.99, which she recorded at the 2014 Commonwealth Games where she finished fourth.

Both women were well off both the Olympic qualifying standard and the consideration time.

The add up of the top four women in the event, 3:39.66, is also well off the Olympic qualifying standard.

Harriet Cooper finished third in a time of 55.45.

  1. Siobhan-Marie O’Connor – 54.18
  2. Fran Halsall – 54.53
  3. Harriet Cooper – 55.45
  4. Anna Hopkin – 55.50
  5. Jessica Jackson – 55.79
  6. Georgia Coates – 55.79
  7. Georgia Davies – 55.85
  8. Emma Gage – 56.44

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY

  • British Record – 51.41, Michael Rock (2009)
  • 1st Place OLY Standard – 51.24
  • Consideration Time – 51.81

James Guy won the men’s 100 butterfly in a time of 52.15. Guy led from start to finish turning at the 50 meter mark in a time of 24.40. He was well off both the Olympic and consideration standard in the event.

For Guy this was a ‘fun’ event at these trials. He wound up taking 40 one-hundredths of a second off his lifetime best coming into the competition.

Antony James finished second in a time of 52.31 followed by Adam Barrett who hit the wall in a time of 52.67.

  1. James Guy – 52.15
  2. Antony James – 52.31
  3. Adam Barrett – 52.67
  4. Cameron Brodie – 53.09
  5. Joseph Roebuck – 53.19
  6. Mark Szaranek – 53.28
  7. Sean Campsie – 53.31
  8. Braxston Timm – 53.50

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE

  • British Record – 2:06.66, Gemma Spofforth (2009)
  • 1st Place OLY Standard – 2:08.21
  • Consideration Time – 2:08.53

Elizabeth Simmonds won the women’s 200 backstroke in convincing fashion finishing almost two full seconds ahead of the field. Despite dominating the event Simmonds finished well of both the Olympic and consideration standards hitting the wall in a time of 2:09.24. Simmonds has a lifetime best of 2:06.79 that she posted in 2010, but the fastest that she has been in the last four years is 2:08.32, which she recorded at last year’s Edinburgh International.

Jessica Fullalove finished second in a time of 2:11.20 over a full second over her lifetime best of 2:10.01. Chloe Hannam finished third in a time of 2:11.47.

  1. Elizabeth Simmonds – 2:09.24
  2. Jessica Fullalove – 2:11.20
  3. Chloe Hannam – 2:11.47
  4. Tazmin Pugh – 2:13.19
  5. Chloe Golding – 2:13.71
  6. Brittany Horton – 2:14.44
  7. Rosie Rodin – 2:15.43

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Tm
7 years ago

Yeah British swimmers were really improving the previous two seasons but this year doesn’t seem as good. Other than Peaty in the 100 breast, Willis in the 200 breast and Guy in the 200 and 400 free there are no other medal contenders.

Dee
Reply to  Tm
7 years ago

In my opinion – It is unfair to write off Halsall, O’Connor & Carlin.

Halsall has been 24.2 this year – But swam poorly here. O’Connor has only swum one race so far. Carlin is a class act – Lets see if she is back ‘on’ her game in the 400 before the write her off. Her 200 was her 2nd fastest ever.

Dee
7 years ago

Another flat night.

Nobody is really on it at the moment it seems.

I’d say 2.11 for Peaty implies he was being genuine about not tapering fully for Nationals. No way he is 3s off his best off a full taper, particularly after his 58.4.

I still regard Britain as contenders in the medley. Free & fly are faster than 2015 on paper – Back was poor but worth noting that CWH has been quite unwell recently so should be faster in Rio. I am quite confident Peaty will break the WR in Rio. He is ominously confident.

Halsall needs to get her game back – nearly a 1/3 of a second slower at Nationals than at… Read more »

paolo
7 years ago

Yes Iain, what a massive disappointment these British trials!

I didn’t expect much from French trials at Montpellier, so I hadn’t been surprised from the certainly not great results in Montpellier, but British swimming movement seemed in big growth in the last two years..

Who knows? Perhaps the Italian trials, starting next week, could be a pleasant surprise for many worldwide swimming fans..

HulkSwim
7 years ago

so what does this fly/bk situation mean for the 400 medley relay?

I was thinking GB would be a huge medal contender… is there a chance they don’t bring a medley relay? no 100 backstroker qualified and now no 100 fly qualifier. They went 3:30 last summer…

G3
Reply to  HulkSwim
7 years ago

and no great 100 freestyler….

Really just one good leg. Not a contender.

Iain
7 years ago

These trials have been such a massive disappointment ://

SM
7 years ago

Disappointed with Barrett really thought at the Commies and Euros in 2014 when he went under 52 seconds we finally found a top class butterfly swimmer but just been lackluster ever since

Iain
7 years ago

Another big disappointment in the 100m fly. I was expecting better from Adam Barrett after a good free.

Iain
7 years ago

I reckon that Fran Halsall has been slightly off on her taper here.

About Jeff Grace

Jeff Grace

Jeff is a 500 hour registered yoga teacher who holds diplomas in Coaching (Douglas College) and High Performance Coaching (National Coaching Institute - Calgary). He has a background of over 20 years in the coaching profession, where he has used a unique and proven teaching methodology to help many achieve their …

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