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University swimmers dominate men’s medley for Olympic contention

Posted on 27/12/2008

Loughborough University Website

University swimmers dominate men’s medley for Olympic contention

Loughborough’s James Goddard added his name to a growing list of University swimmers within reach of Beijing as more records fell at Britain’s Olympic Trials.

In an unprecedented men’s 200m Individual Medley, four Loughborough swimmers dipped below the qualification time in the heats and three Commonwealth Records were claimed in succession by the University’s swim stars.

Goddard and team mate Liam Tancock, who has already guaranteed his ticket to Beijing in the 100m Backstroke, won gold and silver in this morning’s 200m Individual Medley final after record-breaking swims in last night’s heats.

Going first of the Loughborough swimmers last night, Goddard swam a storming 1:58.43 race to set a new Commonwealth and British record. Within minutes that record fell to Tancock, the Loughborough student knocking more than half a second off Goddard’s best to lower both standards to 1:57.79.

This morning the result was reversed with Goddard taking the gold in 1:57.72, lowering the Commonwealth best for the third time in less than 20 hours. Tancock touched second for silver in 1:57.96.

Loughborough’s Joe Roebuck and Euan Dale were also within the FINA A Olympic time in last night’s medley heats, but withdrew from the final to concentrate on other events.

University of Florida swimmer Gemma Spofforth, who has spent the last few weeks in Loughborough preparing for the Trials, broke the British Record in the 100m Backstroke last night to become the first British women to dip below the 60-second mark (59.89). She went on the set a new national best over 50m this morning (28.84) on her way to securing British gold and an Olympic qualification time of 59.90. Melanie

Marshall finished fourth in the same event in 1:01.85.

Loughborough’s James Gibson showed the beginnings of a return to form in the heats of the 100m Breaststroke with his fastest swim for five years. The former World Champion was within a few hundredths of a second off the University best he set in 2003, to qualify first for the final in 1:00.39.

But a late challenge from City of Edinburgh’s Kris Gilchrist and a Commonwealth record-breaking swim from City of Newcastle’s Chris Cook this morning edged him out of a top two finish to shatter his chances of making the Beijing Games.

In the only one-length sprint event of the Olympics, there were lifetime bests for Loughborough’s 50m Freestyle boys Ross Davenport and Craig Gibbons. Davenport was fourth fastest after the heats in 22.64, but withdrew from the final, while Gibson swam a best of 22.75 last night and finished 8th this morning.

Caitlin McClatchey, who has already set a British Record in the 100m Freestyle this week to post an Olympic consideration time, was just off the pace in last night’s 200m Freestyle (4:11.66) to finish four tenths of a second off the qualification standard. The 22-year-old student eventually claimed British Championship bronze this morning in 4:14.77 in a race that saw her British Record fall to gold medallist Rebecca Adlington (4:04.50). Pre-selected Loughborough swimmers: Liam Tancock, 100m Backstroke, added 200m Individual Medley at Trials David Davies (Loughborough-based), 1500m Freestyle

Loughborough University swimmers within Olympic qualification times (British Swimming to confirm squad on Sunday 6 April): David Carry (Loughborough-based), 400m Freestyle Dean Milwain, 400m Freestyle Caitlin McClatchey, 100m Freestyle Julia Becket, 4x100m Freestyle James Goddard, 200m Individual Medley Gemma Spofforth (Florida University, made final Trial preparations at Loughborough), 100m Backstroke.