Halsall and Simmonds enjoy gold finale in Monaco
10th June 2012
British swimmers Fran Halsall and Lizzie Simmonds signed off the 2012 Mare Nostrum tour with a gold and silver medal each as they continue their preparations ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.
The British Gas ITC Loughborough swimmers led the British contingent on the final day’s action in Monaco and saw a combined return of two gold and four silver medals.
Simmonds added the 100m Backstoke title to the 200m gold she won yesterday with a time of 1:00.24 from Sinead Russell of Canada in 1:00.74 and Karin Prinsloo from South Africa in 1:00.95.
And Simmonds just missed out on a clean sweep of golds in the Backstroke events when she was touched out in the 50m event by Sophie Edington of Australia in 28.06 with Simmonds closing in 28.29.
Halsall struck gold in the Women’s 100m Freestyle with a time of 54.26 and was joined on the podium by Loughborough University’s Amy Smith with the bronze in 54.87. Silver went to Camille Muffat of France in 54.40.
In the 50m sprint event Halsall had to settle for the silver in a close battle with veteran Therese Alshammar of Sweden. Gold went in 24.76 with Halsall close behind in 24.92.
Liam Tancock (British Gas ITC Loughborough) was again among the Backstroke medals this time in the 50m event. Gold went to Ben Treffers of Australia in 25.03 and Tancock touched in 25.18.
Joseph Patching of Plymouth Leander ended the British haul with silver in the Men’s 200m Backstroke when he finished in 2:00.60 with gold going to Darren Murray of South Africa in 2:00.28.
