Sunday, June 28, 2009

Spofforth claims third British title


British backstroke queen Gemma Spofforth romped to her third title at the British Gas Scottish National Championships.

The 21-year-old won the 100metres backstroke at Glasgow's Tollcross Park Leisure Centre in 59.56 seconds, half a second outside her own British record.

However, the time was easily fast enough to ensure she and British champion Lizzie Simmonds will represent Great Britain in both the 100m and 200m at the World Championships, which start in Rome next month.

Spofforth has been one of the stars of the Scottish Championships, smashing the British 50m and 200m records in the first two days.

She was being tipped to topple even the 100m world record tonight but she insisted that could wait.

"I just came in today to have a little bit of fun," said Spofforth, who was under pressure to qualify for the worlds this week after missing March's British Championships in Sheffield.

"The world record was kind of on the cards.

"But we'll save that to Rome.

"(London) 2012 has been my goal all along; 2008 was just a bonus.

"So, 2012, we're hoping for the world record and if it comes down any time before then, it'll be a bonus."

Spofforth was the headline act on Saturday night after double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington withdrew from the 400m freestyle this morning due to asthma.

The 20-year-old had all but secured her place in Rome for the event after she and Jo Jackson produced the fastest women's 400m in history in Sheffield.

Saturday night's final was won by Sasha Matthews in four minutes 11.65 seconds almost 11 seconds slower than the target time set by Adlington.

It also emerged on Saturday that Federica Pellegrini had reclaimed the 400m world record from Jackson, who elected not to race the event in Glasgow.

The most thrilling race on Saturday night was undoubtedly the men's 200m individual medley, which saw Joseph Roebuck edge Lewis Smith by just one-hundreth of a second, taking his rival's place in Rome in the process.

Roebuck, who won the 200m butterfly yon Friday, clocked a personal-best 2:00.92.

"I always miss out on touches but managed to get it this time," said the 23-year-old, who suffered the agony of missing out on Olympic qualification last year.

Smith arrived in Glasgow provisionally qualified in three events but could find himself out of the team completely if he fails to win the 400m IM tomorrow.

"Tomorrow, it's going to be third time lucky and I should be on the team," said a confident Lewis, who also made a PB in the 200m.

Simon Burnett was arguably the most relieved swimmer of the night after taking the 50m free and snatching a place on the plane to Rome.

The 100m Commonwealth champion, 26, won that event here on Thursday but not quickly enough for a spot on the Great Britain team.

But he stormed to victory over half the distance tonight in 22.32secs.

Burnett, who was disqualified from the event in Sheffield, said: "I exorcised that demon. This morning, when I was on the block, I was thinking about it.

"Tonight, I just tried to think whatever happens, happens."

Like Spofforth, Jemma Lowe's university commitments in Florida prevented her competing in Sheffield.

But she was forced to endure double heartbreak after winning the women's 200m fly but not quickly enough to oust Hannah Miley from the team.

"It's very frustrating but I gave it my best and I had nothing left at the end there," said Lowe, who also failed to qualify for the 100m despite winning Thursday's final.

"The best thing now is to try to get over it and come back again."

Marco Loughran was unable to achieve 200m backstroke qualification 24 hours after securing his 100m spot, despite winning the event tonight.

Darren Mew won the 100m breastroke but was unable to top Kristopher Gilchrist's time from Sheffield.

In the final two events of the night, Lowri Tynan won the women's 50m breaststroke in 32.50secs.

And the evening ended on a high when David Davies dipped just below his British record in the men's 800m free, with the new mark 7:50.49.

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