Day three of the British National Championships brought more opportunities for swimmers to earn themselves a spot on this summer’s Olympic Team. With both the men’s and women’s backstroke events tonight some of Britain’s most recognizable names were in the water; Gemma Spofforth and Liam Tancock will both return to the Olympics for a second go with their wins tonight. Robbie Renwick takes his second win of the meet to add the 200 free to his Olympic schedule. Kate Haywood would also earn another trip to the Olympics with a win in the 100 breaststroke.
Finals:
Men’s 200 Free
Scotland’s Robbie Renwick, already a qualifier to the Olympic team with his win in the 400 free, earns his second win of the meet in 1:47.33. That time falls just short of his time from yesterday’s semifinals of 1:47.25 which ranks him fourth in the world this year.
Ieuan Lloyd placed second in 1:47.68. That time falls just short of the 1:47.37 he needed to earn an individual swim on the Olympic team. As with all swimmers who fail to meet the standard needed they will receive a second chance at the ASA Championships in June. However, because the top four swimmers in this event will be used for the 800 free relay Lloyd will most likely make the team as a part of the relay squad.
Robert Bale (1:47.85) and Ross Davenport (1:48.04) should also both be added to the team as relay members as well.
The remaining relay spots will be determined later with remain eligible swimmers who have the fastest overall times from prelims, semifinals or finals.
Women’s 100 Back
After a few rough years where she struggled to regain top form it appears world record holder Gemma Spofforth is back on pace with a win in the 100 back in 1:00.19. That time ranks her fifth in the world this year but she will need to continue to drop time to challenge for a medal in London.
Right on her heels was Georgia Davies in 1:00.21. That time moves her into sixth right behind Spofforth in the early part of the season. Davies just sneaks under the mark needed of 1:00.33
The biggest surprise was that Great Britain’s top backstroker for the past few season Elizabeth Simmonds fails to earn a spot on the team with her third place finish in 1:00.43. Simmonds, who most recently took first in the 100 back at the Duel in the Pool, will look to make the British team in the 200 backstroke later in the week.
Men’s 100 Back
Two-time world champion Liam Tancock blasted to an easy win and the top ranked time of the year with a 53.16. That time is just .5 off his personal best from the 2009 World Championships. Tancock will be a favorite to medal in front of his home country this summer.
Taking second was Chris Walker-Hebborn in 54.46. That fails to qualify him for the team as the time needed is a 54.08. Walker-Hebborn will have another opportunity to make the Olympic team at the ASA Championships in a few months. The time is however a personal best for Walker-Hebborn by a mere hundredth and moves him into 12th in the world.
Women’s 100 Breast
Kate Haywood takes the win in 1:08.07 to earn her second trip to the Olympics. That time also moves her into sixth in the world this season.
Second place went to Stacey Tadd in a personal best of 1:08.96 however that time will not earn her a spot of the British Olympic Team as the time needed for the runner-up is 1:07.90. Second place finishers along with others who missed out on the team will have to earn their spot at the ASA Championships later on this year.
Semis:
Women’s 200 Free
Loughboro University’s Caitlin McClatchey produced the top time in semifinal action with a time of 1:57.45. That time moves her into seventh in the world this season.
Second went to Rebecca Turner in 1:58.42 to jump one spot to fourteenth in the world. She betters her personal best from last year’s ASA Championships as well.
The rest of the finalists will be Eleanor Faulkner (1:58.70), Sasha Matthews (1:59.23), Joanne Jackson (1:59.35), Jazmin Carlin (1:59.71), Keri-Anne Payne (2:00.13), and Lucy Ellis (2:00.42).
The time needed for the winner is a 1:58.33 while the runner-up must go faster than 1:57.83 to earn an individual spot in this event.
Men’s 200 Fly
Michael Rock earned the top spot in semifinals with a time of 1:56.45. That time moves him into second in the world this season.
Coming in second was Roberto Pavani who has already earned himself a spot on the team with his win in the 400 IM on night 1. He finished in 1:57.63 moving into sixth in the world.
Rounding out the finalists are Joseph Roebuck (1:57.67), Iain Macmillon (1:58.76), Cameron Brodie (1:58.94), Adam Mallett (1:59.40), Matthew Johnson (1:59.51) and Lewis Smith (2:00.10).
The winner will need to be under 1:56.86 while the runner-up will need a 1:56.26 to qualify for the team.
Women’s 200 IM
Hannah Miley posted the top time in the semifinals with a 2:12.63. That time moves her into fifth in the world and she will look to move up in tomorrow night’s finals.
Right behind Miley was Aimee Willmott in 2:12.73. Willmott, already an Olympic team member after her second place in the 400 IM, moved into seventh in the world with that swim.
Third went to Siobhan-Marie O’Connor in a personal best of 2:13.12 to move into tenth this year.
Guest Finals:
Women’s 200 Free
Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom continues her impressive meet with a blistering 1:55.23 in tonight’s guest finals. That time moves her into first on the year and also is the second fastest textile time in history behind Missy Franklin’s 1:55.09 from last year’s World Championships and sixth all-time. What is even more impressive that it is very likely that Sjostrom is not tapered or shaved for this meet and is simply using it as a chance to swim in the Olympic pool. The time also breaks her own Swedish national record.