Edwards leads home 1500m Freestyle medallists in Sheffield

Matt Edwards of Tavistock looked strong as he extended his lead with 400 metres to go, taking gold in the Men’s 18yrs+ 1500m Freestyle and touching in a new personal best time of 16:20.19 in the day five finals.

“It was an excellent time, I’m over the moon about the three second PB,” said Edwards.

“I’ve been training really hard so I was expecting an improvement. I can’t say I was expecting to take gold though, so I’m really pleased about that. – Matt Edwards

The race was on behind him between Matt Albert Karavis and Simon McCormick, the pair going stroke for stroke over the final 500 metres of the race. It was Windsor’s Karavis who had the strength to pull away in the final length to take silver in 16:25.87.

Bronze went to Richmond Dales’s Kieran Fryer who touched in 16.27.13 in the afternoon’s event, and Derwentside’s McCormick finished fourth in 16:27.56.

Northampton’s Liam Snook dug deep in tonight’s fastest heat to touch fifth in 16:44.86 and take gold in 16/17yrs age-group. After strong swims earlier in the afternoon, Swim Trafford’s Connor Bennett took silver in 16:45.57, while Hatfield’s Nathan Bentley was third in 16:49.94.

Earlier in the day, James Cooper showed incredible stamina winning gold in the Men’s 12/13yrs 1500m Freestyle, his eighth medal of the championships. The youngest swimmer in heat three, the Romford Town swimmer touched seventh in a new lifetime best of 17:20.47 to top the podium. Beckenham’s Timothy Leberl posted a time of 17:38.91 to take silver, while Royal Wolverhampton’s Thomas Watkin was third in 17:43.15.

Thomas Jackson took the lead at the 1000 metre mark in the 14yrs 1500m Freestyle. As the final bell rang, Jackson tapped into his energy reserves to make a final dash for the wall and claim gold in 17:18.72, an incredible 30 seconds inside his lifetime best. The City of Leeds swimmer will be joined on the podium by Northampton teammates Brett Davies and Billy Petit who took silver (17:27.72) and bronze (17.33.93) respectively.

William Martin took victory in the 15yrs 1500m Freestyle after an increase in pace between 400 and 800 metres saw the Maxwell swimmer establish a substantial lead in heat three, touching first in 16:41.41. Teammates once again shared the podium with Swindon Dolphins’ James Watson, the winner of heat four, taking silver in 16:55.94 and William Davies receiving bronze in 16:59.84.

Men’s 200m Breaststroke

Guest swimmer Eoin Corby of Munster led from the start in the Men’s 12/13yrs 200m Breaststroke to touch first in 2:34.42, while Nova Centurion’s Ryan Wilcox touched second in 2:38.58 and was crowned ASA National Champion. Beckenham’s Timothy Leberl took his second silver of the day in a time of 2:39.60, with James Newman touching in 2:41.00 for bronze.

Lewis Smart took an incredible six seconds off his lifetime best to take gold in 14yrs 200m Breaststroke posting a time of 2:33.51. City of Hereford’s Nathan Wallace challenged the Littlehampton swimmer all the way, taking silver in 2:34.48 with Evan Brunsdon of Weston-Super-Mare third in 2:36.02.

“I’ve been training really hard so it paid off in the end,” said Smart. “I’ve had some really big PB’s today. At about the 100m mark I saw a guy on my left shoulder but I pulled it out in the end for the gold.”

In 15yrs 200m Breaststroke, Ben Harrison stormed the final 50 metres of the race to clinch gold ahead of the early leader, Connor Joyce. Potters Bar’s Harrison touched in a new lifetime best of 2:30.57 to push Derwentside’s Joyce in to silver (2:30.69). Wirral Metro’s Jake Dane rounded out the top three, touching the wall in 2:32.66 to take bronze.

Portsmouth’s James Millar was able to edge in front of the field in the 16/17yrs 200m Breaststroke to take gold in a time of 2:22.39. Beacon’s Daniel Brooks touched second in a time of 2:24.93, while Basildon and Phoenix swimmer Fraser Scott was third in 2:26.09.

After dominating this morning’s 200m Breaststroke heats, Putteridge’s Lawrence Palmer looked relaxed as he lowered his life time best to win gold in the 18yrs age-group in 2:17.33. Derwentside’s Joel O’Halleron came back strong in the final 50 metres of the race to take silver in 2:18.88 with Chelsea and Wesminster SC’s Alexander De Tullio third in 2:20.35.

Tia Ward wins 400m Individual Medley gold

Tia Ward demonstrated her strength across all four strokes, winning gold in the Women’s 12/13yrs 400m IM in 5:05.43, over five seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Silver went to Shrewbury’s Lucy Armitage in 5:11.84 with Exeter’s Emily Eveling third in 5:12.41.

Katelyn Bergin turned first after the breaststroke leg but came under pressure in the final 50 metres from Stockport Metro teammate Megan Sheard. Bergin was able to find an extra burst of energy and clinched gold in 5:09.03 ahead of Sheard, who took silver in 5:09.17. Sevenoaks’ Daisy Anderson touched third in 5:11.64.

Guilford City’s Rosanna Arnold was in complete control of the 15yrs 400m IM, taking gold in 5:01.49 ahead of Sevenoaks’ Caitlin Fearon and Brompton’s Spencer Williams who took silver (5:08.44) and bronze (5:09.68) respectively.

In the 16/17yrs 400m IM, Isobel Meikle swam under five minutes for the first time, winning gold by over a body length in 4:59.48. Thanet Swim’s Sophie Waller was hot on the heels of City of Manchester’s Meikle in the final metres of the race and took silver in 5:00.98. Ellesmere College’s Olivia Gardner, who led the race for first 200 metres, was third in 5:04.31

Only 0.03 seconds separated Danielle Whitting and Katie McCarthy heading into the final 100 metres of the 18yrs+ 400m IM. It was Aquae Sulis’ Whitting who proved stronger over the final length of the race and took in gold in 4:55.81 ahead of City of Salford’s McCarthy who touched home in 4:58.44. City of Hereford’s Calypso Harvey pushed herself in the final sprint to take bronze in 5:01.43.

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