2019 British Swimming Championships: Day 5 Finals Live Recap

2019 BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, April 16th – Sunday, April 21st
• Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
• Prelims at 10am local (5am Eastern)/Finals at 6:30pm local (1:30pm Eastern)
• SwimSwam Selection Analysis
• SwimSwam Elite Men Preview/SwimSwam Elite Women Preview
• SwimSwam Emerging Women Preview/SwimSwam Emerging Men Preview
• Final Start Lists
• Day 1 Prelims Recap/Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap/Day 2 Finals Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Recap/Day 3 Finals Recap
• Day 4 Prelims Recap/Day 4 Finals Recap
• Day 5 Prelims Recap
• Live Results

The penultimate finals session from Glasgow will feature the fastest seeded heat in the men’s 800 free, along with championship finals in the women’s 50 back, men’s 50 free, women’s 400 free, and the men’s and women’s 200 IM.

Ben Proud had the swim of the morning session in the men’s 50, touching in a season-best time of 21.57 to elevate him into #3 in the world. A time of 21.45 or better tonight would ensure him an automatic qualification for Worlds this summer.

Also looking to put herself on the team tonight is Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, who was the fastest swimmer in the women’s 200 IM field by nearly two seconds this morning in 2:11.78. 2:09.80 will be the time she’s shooting for tonight.

Men’s 800 Free Timed Final

• Selection Time #1 – 7:46.75
• Selection Time #2 -7:49.71 

1. Samuel Budd, Co Sheffield, 7:59.72
2. William Bell, Co Leicester, 8:01.20
3. Tom Derbyshire, Bath NC, 8:03.42

21-year-old Samuel Budd of Sheffield was the aggressor in the fastest seeded heat of the men’s 800 free, opening up an early advantage over the field as he led by two seconds at the 400m mark in 3:57.65. He held strong coming home, clocking a time of 7:59.72 to break 8:00 for the first time (previously having been 8:00.89 in 2017).

William Bell of Leicester annihilated his best time of 8:10.18 in 8:01.20 for second, getting the 17-year-old under the World Junior qualifying time. The top seed coming in Tom Derbyshire took third in 8:03.42.

Women’s 50 Back Final

1. Georgia Davies, Loughboro Un, 28.10
2. Lauren Cox, Co Coventry, 28.20
3. Cassie Wild, UniOfStirl, 28.43

Reigning European Champion Georgia Davies got the job done in the women’s 50 backstroke final, putting up a time of 28.10 to edge out Lauren Cox (28.20) by one-tenth of a second.

Davies holds a best time of 27.21, from those European Championships, which also stands as the European Record. This is her second title after winning the 100 back earlier.

Cox, just 18, dropped 0.19 off her best time for that runner-up spot, and 19-year-old Cassie Wild was third in 28.43. Seven of the eight finalists were under 29 seconds.

Men’s 50 Free Final

• Selection Time #1 – 21.45
• Selection Time #2 – 21.84

1. Ben Proud, Plymouth Lea, 21.50
2. David Cumberlidge, Edinburgh Un, 22.09
3. Jack Thorpe, Edinburgh Un, 22.49

Ben Proud takes over the #1 time in the world for the year in the men’s 50 freestyle, winning the race by almost six-tenths of a second in 21.50. He overtakes (the recently suspended) Andrea Vergani of Italy for #1 in the world (21.53), and narrowly misses the automatic Worlds qualifying time of 21.45. He was however well under the secondary time and shouldn’t have an issue getting on the team.

Edinburgh teammates David Cumberlidge (22.09) and Jack Thorpe (22.49) placed second and third, both missing their best times by less than a tenth of a second.

Women’s 400 Free Final

• Selection Time #1 – 4:03.57
• Selection Time #2 – 4:06.39

1. Holly Hibbott, Stockport Mo, 4:08.50
2. Leah Crisp, Co Leeds, 4:12.52
3. Rachel Anderson, Millfield, 4:15.21

2018 European bronze medalist Holly Hibbott had a strong start in the women’s 400 free but faded down the backstretch, putting up a time of 4:08.50 to fall over two seconds shy of the consideration time (4:06.39). Her best stands at 4:05.01.

18-year-old Leah Crisp of Leeds registered a new personal best for the runner-up spot in 4:12.52, as did 17-year-old Rachel Anderson of Millfield who took third in 4:15.21.

Both Anderson and 15-year-old Tamryn Van Selm (4:16.37 from the Transition final) were under the World Junior qualifying time.

Men’s 200 IM Final

• Selection Time #1 – 1:56.85
• Selection Time #2 – 1:57.85

1. Duncan Scott, UniOfStirl, 1:56.65
2. Thomas Dean, Bath NC, 1:58.89
3. Joe Litchfield, Loughboro NC, 1:59.50

Duncan Scott dropped British Record holder Max Litchfield on the breaststroke leg of the men’s 200 IM with an incredible 32.85 leg, and then closed the deal with a final 50 of 28.24 to win by over two seconds in a time of 1:56.65. That misses Litchfield’s record by just .01 but overtakes Wang Shun‘s #1 time in the world (1:56.66) by the same margin as he claims the top spot.

A personal best time by over a second, improving his 1:57.86 from the Commonwealth Games, Scott adds a second event to his Worlds lineup as he gets under the automatic qualifying time of 1:56.85. His breaststroke split was notably almost two seconds faster than it was in his Commonwealth swim (34.66).

19-year-old up and comer Thomas Dean turned fifth at the 150 but closed in 28.37 to snag second in 1:58.89, getting under his previous best of 1:59.17. That puts Dean 10th all-time among British swimmers.

Max Litchfield, who remained second heading into the freestyle, ended up falling to fifth in 1:59.73, getting passed by his brother Joe Litchfield (1:59.50) and Mark Szaranek (1:59.72) in addition to Dean.

Women’s 200 IM Final

• Selection Time #1 – 2:09.80
• Selection Time #2 –  2:10.48

1. Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, Bath NC, 2:10.34
2. Alicia Wilson, Guildford CT, 2:11.60
3. Abbie Wood, Loughboro NC, 2:11.65

Siobhan-Marie O’Connor led the women’s 200 IM wire-to-wire, sneaking under the consideration time of 2:10.48 in 2:10.34 for the victory. She moves into #7 in the world for the year.

Alicia Wilson of Guildford CT, who trains in the U.S. at Cal Berkeley, established a big personal best to take second in 2:11.60, narrowly edging out Abbie Wood (2:11.65) on the freestyle leg.