Ben Proud wins butterfly gold on opening night in Marseille

March 4, 2017

Ben Proud won 50m Butterfly gold on the opening day of the FFN Golden Tour meet in Marseille.

The Commonwealth champion was the class act of the field, qualifying fastest from the heats in 23.37.

Proud improved again in the final, touching in 23.29 with Japan’s Shinri Shioura next best in 23.66.

While Proud was the only English medallist on the opening night in France, there were a handful of English youngsters impressing to reach ‘A’ finals.

English youngsters reach A finals

City of Sheffield’s 15-year old Lily Boseley underlined her potential with a 29.42 PB to finish fifth in the 50m Backstroke.

Rebecca Clynes and Tatiana Belonogoff also reached the ‘A’ final in the 50m Breaststroke.

City of Leeds’ Clynes clocked a PB 32.71 to reach the final, before finishing seventh in 32.85.

Guildford’s Belonogoff was just 0.01 seconds back in eighth in the final, having swum a 32.47 effort in the heats.

Former world junior champion Rachael Kelly was the only other English finalist in the sprint events, finishing fifth in the 50m Butterfly.

She clocked 26.75 in the heats before a 26.84 effort in the final.

Image credit: FFN Facebook