Mason takes first gold on day four

There were a number of swimmers claiming their first medals of the ASA National Summer Championships in the day four finals, with Alexander Mason, Jack Shillinglaw and Phoebe Townsend all claiming gold.

Men’s 100m Backstroke finals

Mason of Chester-le-Street claimed his first gold medal of the competition. He swam just outside of his qualifying time in the heats this morning. He was the only swimmer to go under a minute in the heats, and he took the top spot on the podium in the 15yrs final.

“Getting gold feels pretty good,” said Mason. “I went faster in the heats so I was a bit annoyed. I swam under a minute this morning.

“That’s a PB of about four seconds, which was a big surprise.”

Wirral Metro’s Shillinglaw swam a personal best time, shaving off almost a second from the time he set in the morning’s heats. He claimed the gold medal in the 17yrs age group with a time of 58.56.

Women’s 100m Backstroke

In the women’s event, Ellesmere College’s Townsend topped the podium after qualifying fastest in her age group this morning. She swam a terrific race, shaving almost one and a half seconds from her personal best. She claimed the 12/13yrs title with 1:06.04.

In the 17yrs+ event, Isobel Jones of City of Milton Keynes secured her second title of the competition, after winning the 200m Free on the opening day’s finals. She swam a new personal best time of 1:03.81 for the gold medal in the 100m Backstroke.

Men’s 50m Breaststroke

William Whitley of Bicester Blue Fins claimed his first medal of the competition, taking the gold in the 50m Breaststroke.

He was pushed to the touch by Benjamin Simpson of Leatherhead, but managed to get the touch in 31:14 to lower his PB for the second time.

City of Peterborough’s Thomas Wiggins was the second fastest qualifier in the Men’s 17yrs heats, but he managed to get the touch ahead of Hugh Takemoto in the final. He took his first medal of the competition with 30.08.

Women’s 50m Breaststroke

In the 14yrs age group, Portsmouth Northsea swimmer Abigail Lacey lowered her PB for the second time in the 50m Breaststroke. She touched 34.68 for the gold medal. Newcastle’s Katie Toomey was a whisker away, touching in 34.70 for second place.

Guildford City’s Amy Hodgson went one better in the 16yrs 50m Breaststroke, after receiving bronze in the 200m event on day two. She set a new personal best time of 34:18 to add gold to her medal tally.

“It feels amazing to get gold,” said Hodgson. “It’s such a big improvement from last year. It was also another great achievement from achieving a bronze in the 200m Breaststroke. It also feels great to get a new PB.”

Men’s MC 200m Freestyle

In the 200m Freestyle, Louis Hines capitalised on his performance this morning to claim the gold medal in the final. The Watford S14 swimmer clocked 2:06.90 for 769 BDP and his first gold medal.

Other gold medallists

  • Joseph Lenihan (Sutton Cheam) – Men’s 13/14yrs 100m Back
  • Adam Wilkes (Leicester) – Men’s 16yrs 100m Back
  • Ciaran Beard-Jones (Stockport) – Men’s 18yrs 100m Back
  • Lija Radziunaite (Stowmarket) – Women’s 14yrs 100m Back
  • Anna Marley (Harrogate) – Women’s 15yrs 100m Back
  • Keelan Fitton (Bo Kirklees) – Women’s 16yrs 100m Back
  • Owen Westhorp (Hartlepool) – Men’s 13/14yrs 50m Breast
  • Aaron Bartlett (Yeovil) – Men’s 16yrs 50m Breast
  • Simon Smith (Stockport) – Men’s 18yrs+ 50m Breast
  • Jemimah Berkeley (RTW Monson) – Women’s 12/13yrs 50m Breast
  • Izzy Price (Bournemouth) – Women’s 15yrs 50m Breast
  • Danielle Gilbert (Derwentside) – Women’s 17yrs 50m Breast
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