On Day 1 from the 2011 British Gas ASA National Championships, which serves to complete the qualifications for the World Championships in Shanghai this summer, there were a slew of top-10, and season-best, swims posted by British swimmers. They carried that momentum into day 2, where they again lit up the pool. Most of the British roster spots were sealed up at their World Championship Trials in March, but some are still up for grabs at this meet. Read the day 1 recap for details.
Fran Halsall took out her frustrations of missing a spot in the 100 fly by just .01 seconds on the first day of competition in the women’s 100 free. She blasted a 53.61 in prelims, which moves her ahead of Dutch swimmer Femke Heemskerk for the fastest time in the world this year. That mark is about even with her gold-medal time from the European Championships last year, and about a second-and-a-half faster than her time from March’s World Championship Trials, where she already earned a spot in Shanghai.
The winner of this meet’s final was Amy Smith in 55.27, which just missed giving her a FINA A time, and the event’s second individual spot, by .03 seconds. Smith did clear the FINA A standard at the Trials, where she finished 2nd, so there’s still an opportunity for the National Team Coach and Director to use their discretion to give her the spot at World’s.
Robbie Renwick became the meet’s first double-winner when he topped the 200 free in 1:47.46. That time moves him to 10th in the world, as the fastest Brit, and ensures him at least a second individual swim at the World Championships. Just like in the 400 free, the runner-up to Renwick was David Carry (1:49.48), but unlike the 400 Carry will not be moving on to compete in Shanghai. The Scot will instead be joined in the 200 free by Ross Davenport, who won the race at trials.
Chris Walker-Hebborn had a disappointing swim to finish 3rd at the World’s Trials in march in the men’s 200 back, but after a great win at the Barcelona Mare Nostrum stop last week, he lined himself up to post a big mark here. His 1:57.60 win is his best of the season and ties him with Michael Phelps for 6th in the world this year. Walker-Hebborn will join James Goddard, ranked just ahead at 5th in the world, in Shanghai in this race.
In the men’s 100 fly, Anthony James took the win in a big-time swim of 52.13 that pushes him to 7th in the world. He will join Trials winner and National Record holder Michael Rock in that race. Rock is in attendance at this meet – he won the 200 fly on day 1 – but chose not to swim this race. Simon Burnett finished 2nd in 53.04
Stacey Tadd won the women’s 200 breaststroke in 2:27.37, which is a career-best time for her and breaks her own English (not British) National Record, which she set last week at the Mare Nostrum in Barcelona at 2:27.93. Also under the old English record was 14-year old Molly Renshaw, in 2:27.67. As a sign of the weakness of British breaststroking, despite having two swimmers break the English record, they don’t have a single 200 breaststroker in the top 25 in the world. Scottish swimmer Hannah Miley, who is the current British Short Course Record holder, placed 3rd in 2:28.95.
The best swim of the day came in a race that doesn’t even count for World Championships qualifying: the 50 back. There, Georgia Davies swam the world’s 3rd-fastest time this year: 27.96. For Davies, this is a career-best time, though unfortunately she won’t compete for a medal in the event at World’s (barring a change of course from the National Team Director Michael Scott). Both spots in the 100 backstroke – competed yesterday – have already been claimed.
Full (and live) results for the whole meet are available here.
I disagree about the strength of his domestic competition. SInce his debut on top of the medal stands, his sprint prowess has dragged along a few others, namely Fratus, Santos, Oliveira. Not to say these werent impressive swimmers before, but Cesar’s emergence means they now have the makings of a very strong medal challenger type relay.
The 4x100m relay has been heating up since 08, starting with Lezak’s out of body victory over the French. 09 added the Russain into the fray and the world saw some potential in the brazillians since they qualified first for the finals. The australians popped out of their shadow at their nationals this year. And Brazil looms with a 48.7 by Fratus At Maria… Read more »
john26,
no doubt about sullivan 47.05.It was awesome!If you look at the races before/after, he made 47.24 opening relay and 47.3 in 100 free final, it looks his 47.05 was a class a part, like a “perfect race”.I agree with all of your statements, and have my doubts too about Cielo s performance.I dont think is too good to change your training technique EVERY year.Sometimes, your body can react good, sometimes bad(like injuries last year and panpacs champs).
About he being capable to do a 47.5, i hope i am wrong, but all competition races he made this year he was a bit LAZY, his start was nothing like at world SCM Champs.I know he was training very… Read more »
I agree on the Halsall debate, and John is right Fran is much more a 100 Swimmer than a 50 swimmer which is reflected in her 1.59 200m PB! however she has bulked up this year and i think her 50m will benefit more than her 100m, she is amazingly strong off a fast pace shown by her ability to swim 100fly stronger than her 50 which is strange for a sprinter, she swam 26.2 in Delhi and in Sheffield she swam off of a 26.48 split. i will go..53.0 & 24.3. sidenote, Jemma Lowe is one to watch on the fly, never thought i would say that going into worlds.
To clarify, you could see 5 or so swimmers break into 47s at various points in the meet, not the 100m free final. I think Phelps’ form last summer and his consistent performances is evidence enough for the fact that he’s going to go at least 47.9 this summer. Juding by indianapolis, where he also went 51.7 (worth about a 51.5 if he had a better finish), he waas probably going to lose about 1 second + change thru taper. You’re looking at a time around 47.8 and this was 2 months ago. It should not be shocking to see Phelps go 47.6 or 47.7low and walk away with the fastest time of the year.
As for Halsall, I’ve always… Read more »
Hayden is probably the most underrated sprinter in the world. IMO, if he worn the full poly suit at Rome, he MIGHT have won the 100m free gold over Cielo. His 47.27 in the lzr, was at least good for a silver in that race. With that said, I think the most impressive 100m free race regardless of suit since the late 90s was Sullivan’s 47.05. For sure, that time is stronger than cielo’s WR, and I’m guessing sits int he neighborhood of 47.5 or 47.6 in a textile suit. This guess, is of course, detable and extremely controversial.
The way I feel is that Sullivan may be one of , or the, most capable sprinters in the world, if… Read more »
For me, the only thing that could stop Fran is her race fitness, she missed out a lot early season and as much as her 53.61 was hugely impressive the rounds (what she usually likes) might take more out of her than usual due to her year, i doubt this though. The 50FR for me is hardest for her to get and maybe in retrospec i think my 24.2 is closer to the time she could post, however i think the 100M will go, not by much but i think she will sneak it.
Bryan,
Cielo made 40.92 when he was a 48.34 LCM swimmer(Ok, wasn t a jammer!).And besides him, we don´t have many international swimmers doing yards outside US.41.1 is a great time, but not a spetacular one, like many americans make all the world think.Remember all that talk about how hard is to break 19seconds barrier in 50 y free?Honestly, i believe a lot of guys will do it if was a world event.And a near 17, something like 18.1 is not impossible.
A famous american coach said:”Long course is ANOTHER sport!”.I totally agree with him.
I Dont misjudge Adrian, and i think almost impossible for him not to win a medal in BOTH events(50 and 100free), he… Read more »
In what universe was Adrian’s 41.1 100 yard free not impressive?