Second gold for impressive Adlington on day four
8 March 2011
Britain’s golden girl Rebecca Adlington continued to impress as she won her second gold medal of the British Gas Swimming Championships in the 200m Freestyle.
The event proved to be one of the closest battles of the competition with all girls qualifying for the final within 1.2 seconds of each other.
At the halfway point 1500m Freestyle champion Keri-anne Payne was leading the field and at the final turn it was Jo Jackson who had taken the lead.
But Adlington - Olympic champion over 400m and 800m - timed her race to perfection and began to come through with just 25m to go claiming gold in 1:58.90.
Jazmin Carlin won the silver in a time of 1:59.03 and bronze went to Payne in 1:59.42 while Rebecca Turner (1:59.63), Jackson (1:59.69) and Hannah Miley (1:59.80) all finished under two minutes.
“That felt good to win in what was a packed, world class field and it just shows how strong our 4x200m relay can be,” said Adlington, who scooped the 200m, 400m and 800m Freestyle treble 12 months ago.
“To get six girls all under two minutes is a great achievement.
“That’s my second title of the British Gas Championships and I still have the 800m to go so this week so far has been very good for me.”
Michael Rock won the men’s 200m Butterfly final but had to fight off Joe Roebuck throughout the final 50m.
Defending champion Rock had an excellent start and moved into the lead in the early stages of the race and held a body length’s lead at the half way point.
Roebuck came back fast in the final 50m and almost stole the victory from the Commonwealth medallist but Rock managed to hold on and took gold in 1:56.31 and book his place at this summer's World Championships in Shanghai.
“I’ve been working on my last 50m throughout the winter months and it felt good tonight to give me the victory,” Rock said.
“I wasn’t entirely happy with my performances in 2010 but that swim gets this year off to a good start. I’ve worked really hard in the closed season and I feel in good shape.”
Roebuck will join Rock in China after clinching silver in 1:56.67 while Roberto Pavoni secured bronze in 1:58.03.
The men’s 800m Freestyle saw Tom Allen dominate the final to win.
The European junior open water champion led from the start before touching home just outside of the eight minute barrier in 8:00.25 - more than eight seconds clear of the field.
Thomas Sunter swam to silver in 8:09.63 and bronze went to Daniel Cocking in 8:14.70.
East Kilbride’s Douglas Scott won the gold in the 50m Breaststroke, finishing in 28.74.
Fastest qualifier Russell Smith clinched silver in 28.81 while Craig Elliot took bronze in 28.95.
In the semi final races contested, Adam Brown secured the middle lane for tomorrow night's 100m Freestyle final with a time of 49.72.
The 200m Butterfly semis saw Ellen Gandy (2:07.76) progress fastest ahead of Jemma Lowe (2:08.82) while Commonwealth Champion James Goddard took the fastest time in the 200m Individual Medley, finishing in 2:01.20.
Finally, British Gas ITC Swansea swimmer and defending champion Georgia Davies qualified fastest in the women’s 50m Backstroke with a time of 28.77.
For full results and start lists from the British Gas Swimming Championships, click here.
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