Litchfield hits Max power on way to comfortable win

Max Litchfield led from start to finish as he comfortably won the 400m Freestyle gold at the Swim England National Winter Championships.

The 23-year-old Dearne Valley swimmer finished in 3:38.13, 4.29 seconds ahead of Bangor’s Jack McMillan who claimed the commemorative silver medal in 3:42.42.

Litchfield said: “I was really pleased with that 400m Freestyle.

“Coming into this meet, it was just about having some fun, racing hard and racing fast hopefully.

“To start with a personal best is a great start to the week and hopefully in the next few days I can push on and have some fun in the medleys as well.”

City of Sheffield’s Jay Lelliott was the open silver medallist in 3:42.55, while Bath University’s Tom Derbyshire took the bronze in 3:43.95.

Northampton’s Edward Mildred, 15, took top spot on the podium in the junior event in 3:56.49.

Thanet Swim’s Charley Langford, 15, clocked 4:01.61 to take silver, while Derventio’s Jacob Whittle, 14, was third in 4:01.92.

Kayla sets new junior world record

In the Women’s 100m Freestyle, High Performance Centre Ontario’s Kayla Sanchez set a new junior world record.

The 17-year-old produced a brilliant second 50m to finish in 51.45 to take the commemorative gold medal.

Ealing’s Anna Hopkin led at the halfway stage but couldn’t keep up with Sanchez’s powerful performance and had to settle for second spot, with the consolation of the open gold medal, after clocking 52.00.

High Performance Centre Ontario’s Peneloppe Oleksiak was the commemorative silver medallist after recording 52.32.

The open silver went to Loughborough University’s Marie Wattel in 52.63, while City of Sheffield’s Kate Clifton took the bronze in 54.32.

Northampton’s Betsy Wizard, 15, was the junior gold medallist in 56.09, Nova Centurion’s Freya Colbert, 14, was second in 56.96, while Plymouth Leander’s Sophie Freeman, 14, was third in 57.00.

Sam takes gold in close Individual Medley final

Sam Horrocks was victorious in the close Men’s 100m Individual Medley.

The 24-year-old City of Manchester Aquatics swimmer was the fifth fastest qualifier for the final but took the gold medal in a time of 53.55.

He was 0.30 seconds ahead of Dearne Valley’s Joe Litchfield (53.85), while Loughborough University’s James Brown was the bronze medallist after clocking 54.32.

York City’s Jason Robson, 15, was the junior champion as he touched home in 58.98.

Millfield’s Calvin Fry, 14, took the silver medal in 59.15 while Louis Hayes, 14, of Sevenoaks claimed the bronze in 59.26.

Loughborough celebrate relay double

Meanwhile, Loughborough University celebrated a double in the 200m Medley Relays.

The women’s team of Emily Crane, Imogen Clark, Marie Wattel and Emily Barclay were 5.53 seconds clear of their nearest challengers and silver medallists, Mount Kelly.

Their team of Athena Clayson, Niamh Robinson, Emily Halmes and Macy Lawrence finished in 1:52.30, with the Plymouth Leander quartet of Tegan Drew, Lucia Grant, Laura Stephens and Honey Osrin third in 1:53.79.

In the men’s race, Luke Greenbank, James Wilby, Brian O’Sullivan and Thomas Fannon secured the gold for Loughborough University in a time of 1:36.91.

Bangor’s Jordan Sloan, McMillan, David Thompson and Curtis Coulter, sealed a commemorative silver medal after finishing in 1:38.75.

The open silver medal went to Plymouth Leander’s team of Thomas Beeley, Adam Chillingworth, Edorardo Valsecchi and Freddy Clampett, who clocked 1:39.62.

Samuel Lawman, Richard Ayre, Alistair Crawford and Ryan Flanagan secured the bronze medal for East Leeds after recording 1:39.80.

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