British women on song in Trials warm-up
13th February 2012
Four of Britain’s biggest female stars clocked world class times as the best of British Swimming put the finishing touches to their preparation for next month’s British Gas Swimming Championships.
Competing in her favourite 800m Freestyle for the first time since winning gold at last year’s World Championships, Rebecca Adlington sailed to the top of this year’s world rankings with her time of 8:22.35 at the BUCS Championships in Sheffield.
European champion Lizzie Simmonds also left an encouraging marker of her form as she finished top of the pile in the 200m Backstroke at Ponds Forge.
The British Gas ITC Loughborough swimmer ducked under her efforts from last year’s World Championships to touch in 2:07.92.
Finally, Fran Halsall blew away the opposition in the 100m Butterfly heats in Sheffield, touching just 0.27 short of her British record with an effort of 57.67.
Halsall’s time took her to the top of this year’s world rankings ahead of British teammates Ellen Gandy and Jemma Lowe who lie second and fifth respectively.
Gandy’s season’s best of 57.78 also came this weekend as she stormed to victory at the New South Wales State Open Championships in Australia.
The World Championship silver medallist also took gold in the 200m Fly, touching in the third fastest time of her career of 2:05.95.
