2019 British Championships Day 6 Finals Recap

Caeleb Dressel

2019 BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOMEN’S 1500M FREE

  • Selection Time #1 – 15:57.85, Selection Time #2 – 16:03.60
  • British National Record – 15:47.26, Jazz Carlin, 2013
  • GOLD – Leah Crisp, 16:44.29
  • SILVER – Emily Clarke, 16:45.36
  • BRONZE – Georgia Darwent, 16:47.85

Leeds’ Leah Crisp topped the women’s 1500m freestyle via the final heat tonight in Glasgow, clocking a time of 16:44.29. That’s off her personal best of 16:38.76 she produced at the Edinburgh International last month. But, it gave her another gold here, doubling up on her 800m free victory from day 2.

Dueling with Crisp the entire was was Loughborough’s Emily Clarke, who put up a time tonight of 16:45.36, a new personal best by almost 10 seconds. Entering these championships, Clarke’s lifetime fastest was the 16:55.82 from the 2018 Stockholm Open. Clarke took bronze in the aforementioned 800m free here.

Newcastle’s Georgia Darwent became the 29th fastest British performer ever en route to bronze in 16:47.85.

Unfortunately for the women, they will be without representation in this event in Gwangju, as no women were near the minimum consideration time for the 2019 World Championships.

MEN’S 50M FLY – FINAL

European Championships silver medalist Ben Proud finished over half a body length ahead of the men’s 50m fly field to take gold here in a mark of 23.25. That doubles up on his 50m free win and further establishes the brawny lad as the British sprinting king.

His time tonight was off of his 22.78 time from the European Championships, but, given the fact he most likely made the World Championships team in the 50m free, he’ll get the nod to race this event as well. He is the 2017 World Champion, after all (22.75, National Record).

Proud now ranks 6th in the world this season.

2018-2019 LCM MEN 50 FLY

2Nicholas
SANTOS
BRA22.6005/11
3Oleg
KOSTIN
RUS22.7007/22
4Andrii
GOVOROV
UKR22.8007/21
4Michael
ANDREW
USA22.8007/22
View Top 46»

Lewis Fraser collected silver in 23.98, the only other sub-24 second time of the field. His previous PB was 24.26, so the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games gold medalist slashed that to bits, registering 23.98 for silver. That rockets him to become the 10th fastest British performer of all-time.

Poole swimmer Jacob Peters scored his 3rd bronze of these championships, sweeping the medal color in all 3 fly events. 24.03 is what the 18-year-old logged for the 3rd place finish tonight, slightly off his 23.95 from the 2018 European Championships.

Of note, Scott McLay finished off the podium in 4th by just .02 in 24.05, but his time equals the Scottish National Record, concluding a stellar meet for the University of Stirling man. The original 24.05 Scottish record holder is Todd Cooper from way back in 2006. You can read more about McLay’s time drops here.

WOMEN’S 100M BREAST – FINAL

  • Selection Time #1 – 1:06.26, Selection Time #2 – 1:06.66
  • British National Record – 1:06.34, Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, 2016
  • GOLD – Jocelyn Ulyett, 1:07.35
  • SILVER – Tatiana Belonogoff, 1:07.61
  • BRONZE – Sarah Vasey, 1:07.62

In a somewhat surprising turn of events, National Record holder and #1 seed out of the heats, Siobhan-Marie O’Connor fell well off the pace in tonight’s women’s 100m breaststroke final. Going out in a solid 31.49, O’Connor faded to 5th in a pedestrian 1:08.07. But, she most likely already qualified in the 200m IM, so the Bath swimmer at least has the one event for Gwangju.

Winning the race this evening was 200m breaststroke National Record holder JOcelyn Ulyett, who touched in 1:07.35.  That’s within half a second of her own personal best, but enough to get the job done tonight.

18-year-old Tatiana Belonogoff had another breakout swim, notching silver in 1:07.61. That slices about .2 off of her own personal best and doubles up on the Guildford City’s 50m breast bronze from earlier.  Belonogoff is a European Junior Championships gold medalist in the 50m breast.

Sarah Vasey doubled up on her 50m breast gold with a bronze here in 1:07.62. Imogen Clarkstill recovering from an injury that forced her to pull out of the 50m breast, clocked 1:08.34 for 6th. However, this is another World Championships-less qualifier event for the women. The times here all sit outside the top 15 performers in the world this season.

MEN’S 200M BACK – FINAL

  • Selection Time #1 – 1:55.54, Selection Time #2 – 1:56.23
  • British National Record – 1:55.58, James Goddard, 2010
  • GOLD – Luke Greenbank, 1:55.89
  • SILVER – Craig McNally, 1:58.89
  • BRONZE – Jay Lelliott, 1:59.64

This men’s 200m backstroke was a one-man race with Luke Greenbank crushing a monster personal best in a winning mark of 1:55:89, coming in as the 3rd fastest British performer of all-time. Entering this meet the 21-year-old Loughborough athlete held a personal best of 1:56.89 from way back at the 2016 European Games in Baku.

But, his new 100m back lifetime best here of 53.92 earlier for gold gave us shades of a big performance, on which the Mel Marshall-trained Greenbank delivered tonight. His 1:55.89 dips under the consideration time, falling just .25 off of the selection time #1. That should be enough to give Greenbank the ticket to Gwangju.

Winning by 2 body lengths, Greenbank now ranks as the 4th fastest swimmer in the world this year. For perspective of how on-fire this swim was for Lukebank, his time also blows away the 1:57.43 4th place time the logged on the Gold Coast at last year’s Commonwealth Games, as well as the 1:58.84 he produced at last year’s European Championships.

2018-2019 LCM MEN 200 BACK

EvgenyRUS
RYLOV
07/26
1.53.40
2Ryan
MURPHY
USA1.54.1207/26
3Mitchell
LARKIN
AUS1.55.0306/13
4Jiayu
XU
CHN1.55.2404/27
5Austin
KATZ
USA1.55.5707/08
View Top 26»

WOMEN’S 100M FLY – FINAL

  • Selection Time #1 – 57.22, Selection Time #2 – 57.56
  • British National Record – 57.25, Ellen Gandy, 2012
  • GOLD – Alys Thomas, 58.20
  • SILVER – Charlotte Atkinson, 58.30
  • BRONZE – Laura Stephens, 58.82

29-year-old Commonwealth Games champion in the 200m fly, Alys Thomas, took the gold tonight in this 100m sprint in a mark of 58.29. That was slightly slower than her 58.17 from this morning and off her 57.84 personal best that represents the 6th fastest time in British history.

Thomas already took gold here in the 200m fly in 2:07.40, a consideration time. As such, she may get the nod to also race this event in Gwangju.

Isle of Man’s Charlotte Atkinson powered to a time of 58.30, also off her PB of 57.88, for silver, while Plymouth Leander’s Laura Stephens powered her way to the wall in 58.82. She’s been as fast as 58.70.

Both Thomas and Atkinson competed in this event at the 2018 European Championships, hitting 58.44 and 59.36, respectively in the semi-finals.

Last year’s champion, Harriet Jones, finished in 8th in 59.87.

None of the swimmers were near the 57.56 minimum time consideration. There were no British finalists in this event at the 2017 World Championships.

MEN’S 200M FREE – FINAL

  • Selection Time #1 – 1:45.70, Selection Time #2 – 1:46.47
  • British National Record – 1:45.14, James Guy, 2015
  • GOLD – Duncan Scott, 1:45.63
  • SILVER – James Guy, 1:46.34
  • BRONZE – Tom Dean, 1:46.86

Bringing home the win, his 3rd of tehse Champioships, was Scotland’s Duncan Scott. Scott clocked 1:45.63 to take the 200m freestyle British National Title, adding to his 200m IM and 100m free from earlier in the meet. He took silver in the 200m fly and 100m fly as well.

In this 200m free, Scott led the field in 51.29, while Guy turning just .07 later at the half in 51.36. Scott rushed home to clock the only sub-1:46 time of the field in his 1:45.63, with Guy just behind in 1:46.34.

Scott holds the 2nd fastest British time ever in 1:45.16 from the 2017 World Championships and took bronze at last year’s Commonwealth Games in 1:46.30. The Stirling stud was also 1:45.34 for gold at last year’s European Championships and his performance tonight now ranks Scott as #3 in the world.

2018-2019 LCM MEN 200 FREE

DanasLTU
RAPSYS
08/17
1.44.38
2Clyde
LEWIS
AUS1.44.9007/22
3Duncan
SCOTT
GBR1.44.9107/26
4Sun
YANG
CHN1.44.9307/23
5Katsuhiro
MATSUMOTO
JPN1.45.2207/23
View Top 26»

Guy took silver in 1:46.34, a time that slides under the consideration mark of 1:46.47, but barely. That will be enough to make the 4x200m freestyle relay squad, but we’ll wait on the final determination from British powers-that-be on his individual bid.

Last night’s 200m IM silver medalistt Tom Dean blasted a new personal best of 1:46.86, marking the 19-year-old’s first time ever under the 1:47-second threshold in the event.

4th place went to Calum Jarvis in 1:47.18 to most likely notch his slot as a relay member.

Of note, 16-year-old Matthew Richards busted out another record-setting mark, slashing his Age Record for 16-year-olds of 1:49.63 this morning to 1:49.36 for 7th place tonight.

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Mark O
5 years ago

I’m putting it out there now, GB will win both the Men’s Medley and 4x200m relays at the Worlds and Olympics.

Anakin
Reply to  Mark O
5 years ago

You putting down money on this? Because I would absolutely take that bet against you

AnEn
5 years ago

At the 150 m mark it looked as if Scott would go sub 1:45, but then he was doing a Tom Shields. The 200 free is still in a sad state globally, what a shame that Agnel declined/retired so rapidly, he could have dominated this event for a decade.
It looks as if Yang will continue to sleepwalk his way to 200 free golds unless someone steps up out of nowhere.
The British relay is looking good, although I am not sure this is enough to challenge the US. They should fight for the minor medals against Russia, Australia and maybe Brazil.
Great swim for Greenbank as well, very strong back half, all finals on the women’s… Read more »

Luigi
Reply to  AnEn
5 years ago

as I said above, if Duncan Scott focused on the 200 he could be menacingly good, he’s obviously got the base speed and the stamina to go 1:44 if not better.

Jeff
Reply to  Luigi
5 years ago

Agreed. If the 200 free hadn’t been on day one. I think he would have done a 1:44

Jeff
Reply to  Jeff
5 years ago

*had

AnEn
Reply to  Luigi
5 years ago

Why obviously? I think it would be obvious that he can go 1:44 if he would actually go 1:44. I think there is a reason why Yang has been dominating the 200 free for so long, while none of the guys coming from the 100 free have been able to go 1:44. I believe that his future successor will be someone who is also good at the 400 free, possibly Winnington.

Luigi
Reply to  AnEn
5 years ago

Anen I am not sure Scott can be defined as “coming from the 100 free”. Being able to go 47 does not automatically make him a 100 freestyler. Agnel was a finalist in the 100 free in London and was also a 47, yet nobody ever mistook him for a 100 freestyler. Thorpe won the bronze medal in the 100 free in Athens, but again he was not a 100 freestyler. I will concede that a great 200 freestyler must have a great PB in the 100 free and that’s what makes DS a potentially dominant 200 freestyler None of the other 200 free guys has his speed.

AnEn
Reply to  Luigi
5 years ago

Chalmers has even more speed, I think LeClos also has a 100 free PB in the low 48 range + is great in the 200 fly, but was never able to go 1:44. So what is Scott then in your opinion? A 400 free guy? Agnel and Thorpe were both amazing in the 400 free as well, so far Scott has shown nothing so far that would indicate that he has the same endurance those guys had. Just because he is good in the 200 IM doesn’t mean that he has the endurance. Michael Andrew is great in the 50 free and the 200 IM so according to you he should be great in the 200 free as well, but… Read more »

Dee
Reply to  AnEn
5 years ago

Le Clos went 1.45.2 with a first 50 of 23.3, so he could probably have gone 1.44 that day. Scott hasnt raced many LCM 400 frees, but he has a 3.40 SCM and that translates to 3.46, so lets be conservative and just say he can go sub 3.50. I think 47.8 + high 3.40s (3.48/3.49) = a 1.44 one day. Easy to forget he is still only 21 years old – Seems older because of his Rio breakout.

Luigi
Reply to  AnEn
5 years ago

The difference between Scott and all these guys is: he went 1:45 in the 200 at the end of a very long week. That is evidence enough for me.
Ps Pieter VDH never swam the 400 …

Rafael
Reply to  Luigi
5 years ago

Scheffer went 1:45:5 3 days after SC World and after a 30-hour Flight.. and last week could not replicate the same swim.. so.. Can´t say that a week is exactly what causes it..

Jeff
Reply to  AnEn
5 years ago

I’m not sure Sun will win. It’s Duncan’s first event and probably his best. He’s been pretty consistent in the last year in terms of results at major championships and I think he potentially could beat Sun

thezwimmer
Reply to  AnEn
5 years ago

The state of the world 200 freestyles has been brought about by the tendency for guys to try and win the race from the first 50. No use in going 24 low on the first 50 if it’ll put you at 27 by the 3rd. Guys like Phelps and Thorpe could go out in 51 and bring it home in 52/53 whereas some of these top swimmers today will push 50 on the first 100 and struggle home in 54/55.

My theory is that the sudden breakthrough in the 200 yard freestyle has contributed to this trend. Guys can sprint all out because they have a wall every 25 yards.

N P
Reply to  thezwimmer
5 years ago

Splits of swims under 1:44:

’07 Phelps – 1:43.86 – (51.00 / 52.86)
’08 Phelps – 1:42.96 (50.29 / 52.67)
’08 Phelps – 1:43.31 – (50.48 / 52.83)
’09 Biedermann – 1:43.65 (50.85 / 52.80)
’09 Biedermann – 1:42.00 (50.12 / 51.88)
’09 Phelps – 1:43.22 (50.25 / 52.97)
’09 Izotov – 1:43.90 (51.24 / 52.66)
’09 Biedermann – 1:42.81 (50.58 / 52.23)
’12 Agnel – 1:43.14 (50.64 / 52.50).

And also Thorpe’s swim from 2001:
’01 Thorpe – 1:44.06 (51.45 / 52.61).

Togger
Reply to  N P
5 years ago

Whichever kid breaks that Bidermann record one day is going to be a hell of a swimmer. Coming back 8 tenths faster than Beijing Phelps (in a LZR) would be absolutely filthy.

Small bird
Reply to  N P
5 years ago

Wow really gives respective on how amazing Thorpes swim was

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Small bird
5 years ago

And Agnel’s.

Wanna sprite?
Reply to  N P
5 years ago

Also ‘18 Haas 1:43.75 idk the 100 splits

sven
Reply to  thezwimmer
5 years ago

I will always wonder what Chad Le Clos could have gone in the 200 free in Rio if he hadn’t taken it out in 23.3.

Honest Observer
Reply to  sven
5 years ago

Even worse, he took his heat and semifinals 200 free out similarly extravagantly. He probably would also have done much better in the 200 fly in Rio had he not swum the 200 free. But with the overlap, he had nothing left by the finals of the 200 fly.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Honest Observer
5 years ago

Or the 100 fly. By the time the 100 fly came around, LeClos and Phelps were dead. Schooling was fresh having only done the 100 free up to a dead last in the semis as an added event.

N P
Reply to  sven
5 years ago

It’s a painful time when you take the first 50 of a 200 out 0.9 under world record pace.

Yozhik
Reply to  thezwimmer
5 years ago

I think that racing strategy at 200 is more complicated than looking at it at 100-by-100 angle. Practically all best results in textile show the splits where the fourth fifty is faster than the previous one. And only splits of Agnel’s second best result (1:44.2) look like two-hump camel. I don’t have Sun Yang’s ones.
The 200free race saw many different strategies applied (including negative splits) and the best one is still hasn’t been found, but in my opinion based on the general approach to the optimal energy distribution in the system with limited resources the structure of the splits should look like Alisson Schmitt’s ones (27.18 – 28.20 – 28.97 – 29.26). It isn’t the fastest start and… Read more »

sven
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

In theory, the most efficient way to pace a sprint is to hold the same speed the whole time, but obviously the first and last splits are going to look different based on the dive and finish.

If the dive is worth about 2 seconds on the first 50 and finishing to the hand instead of flipping is worth 0.5s on the last one (I am guessing, but these numbers are probably not too far off), then a 1:45.00 should look something like 24.87 / 26.87 / 26.88 / 26.38 or 51.7 / 53.2 by 100 for a 1.5s spread.

Depending on how good a particular swimmer’s dive and turns are relative to their swim speed, there will be… Read more »

13 % Chinese person
Reply to  sven
5 years ago

It is harder ti swim that way in a major final but it does have an aesthetic quality probably based on human love of symmetry. Examples are all,of Thorpes 200s & Ararne’s recent 1 54.3. . Manadou Pellegrini & Muffet were lovely 200 swimmers also..

Yozhik
Reply to  sven
5 years ago

My point actually was that it is very inaccurate to think about 200 race as the one that consists of two similar 100 races. The first 100 may indeed looks like regular 100 race but the second one is swum in vast majority of cases with negative splits. I would tell that even averaging the speed along the distance by 50s is still very rough. A lot of things are happening from wall to wall.
When I was a college student my friend who was T&F athlete surprised me that even 100m race has several phases that require special training. At least three of them if i remember correctly: acceleration without breathing, breathing and keeping the speed, finish without… Read more »

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  sven
5 years ago

A 200 free is not a sprint. A 200 meter dash is a sprint. The difference is well over a minute.

AnEn
Reply to  AnEn
5 years ago

What? Australia is certainly good enough to challenge in the women’s 400 free relay. Sometimes it helps to look at the facts.

AnEn
Reply to  AnEn
5 years ago

Then you should try to do that instead of making any more nonsense comments.

13 % Chinese person
Reply to  AnEn
5 years ago

Peatypiper , if the US do not win this post will be submitted o a 2 year inquiry . You will be indicted & extradited for interfering by sowing doubt & division .

Dee
5 years ago

1.46.3/1.46.8/1.47.1/1.48.1

Bath NC could make a World Final in the 4×200 haha

Tim
Reply to  Dee
5 years ago

Well since GB only has two ITCs Bath has a catchment area equivalent to some countries.

13 % Chinese person
Reply to  Dee
5 years ago

So could St Peters girls with 154.3 156.6 157.7 & 1.59. With a total age of 175 / average just under 19. There should be an international merit award for squads & clubs who can make world & Olympic relay finals . Perhaps ISL could start handing them out & show Fina what they don’t know . An extra bonus if the swimmers came to the squad aged 19 & under to demonstrate development abilitities.

Rafael
Reply to  Dee
5 years ago

Pinheiros would final in all men relays and medal on the 4×100 free.. so?

Luigi
5 years ago

Someone on here after the 100 free said that Duncan Scott had a shortish stroke. Maybe for a sprinter, but he has the perfect stroke for the 200 free, coupled with a massive kick. And, to be sure, he extends his arm the full length under the water. Really a great all-around swimmer. He and James Guy swam a wonderful race for the 200 final, they weren’t afraid to take it out from the start.

Togger
Reply to  Luigi
5 years ago

Interesting they both suggested they were fully tapered in the interview afterwards. The times were good, but I think they’ve each got another half a second to a second in them. I hope I’m right, but there’s a risk the qualifying times have made this their key meet, not Worlds themselves.

Luigi
Reply to  Togger
5 years ago

I believe Scott has at least a 1:44 in him, based on his 100 free time and on his 200 IM time. He’s got the base speed and the stamina. I wonder which race (100 or 200 free) he will focus on, it’s almost impossible to be a medal contender for both internationally.

Luigi
Reply to  Luigi
5 years ago

I agree that he has better prospects in the 200, it’s a race that has no stars since Agnel went off the grid.

Sqimgod
Reply to  Luigi
5 years ago

It’s always been sun yang and everyone else 1:45

Jeff
5 years ago

I think Duncan Scott’s time was pretty decent considering it was the last event of the championships and he was probably shattered. Also, with SMOC I personally believe her biggest barrier to success is herself. If she just had a bit of confidence again it would do her wonders.

Luigi
Reply to  Jeff
5 years ago

Third in the world rankings for the 200 free, the last race of a long week where he beat a NR and almost beat another one … yes, I would say that is pretty decent!

IM FAN
5 years ago

Ok, obviously Britian wants their team to be competitive, but let’s take a look at the 50 free standard for example. In the historically fast 2017 world champ final, the #1 standard of 21.45 would’ve been 4th. The world champs are already extremely lucrative to begin with, only 120 athletes got to swim this event at the 2017 edition. For an already strong swimming nation like the UK to expect their athletes to be top 4 in the whole damn world in April is absolutely ridiculous. They really need to rethink this selection criteria

Torchbearer
Reply to  IM FAN
5 years ago

Indeed, it must make some swimmers think why should I bother aiming for the National team- it must seem impossible.
Also, I would worry that it might make swimmers aim for their absolute peak performance of the year at the trials, instead of the WC/Olympics….since it is a harder competition with more on the line! The trials should build a swimmers performance, not be the ultimate goal of the year.

Definitely Not Sun Yang
5 years ago

Breakout meet for Greenbank!

Jeff
5 years ago

Big PB from Greenbank there. Enters him into 4th in the world ranking so and gets him a consideration time.

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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