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Swimming: University Record puts Dale in Olympic contention

Posted on 27/12/2008

Loughborough University Website

Swimming: University Record puts Dale in Olympic contention

Loughborough’s Euan Dale set a lifetime best in the 400m Individual Medley to become the latest University swimmer to qualify for the Beijing Olympics this week in Sheffield.

Dale’s consideration time has pushed the number of University-based swimmers within reach of the Games to ten, with a further two days of competition still to go.

In an event that saw Welsh swimmer Thomas Haffield set a new Commonwealth Record in the heats, Dale and team mate Joe Roebuck were fighting it out for a top two spot this morning.

Having both achieved qualifying times last night, just three hundredths of a second separated the two going into the final.

Dale knocked more than a second and a half off his time this morning to win silver in a new University Record of 4:16.33 and put himself up for Beijing selection. Roebuck won bronze in 4:18.05, while Loughborough team mate Edward Downes finished seventh in 4:28.38.

“What a relief,” said Dale. “I didn’t swim my race very well last night and went out too quickly during the butterfly, which meant I struggled during the latter part of the race. “With Joe and I so evenly matched in terms of time, I knew I had to pace myself better today and use the freestyle leg to my advantage to earn that all important top two finish. “Two personal bests in two days is unexpected but I’m obviously thrilled with my times and of course my place on the Olympic team.”

In the 200m Breaststroke, University swimmer Craig Elliot won bronze in 2:15.23 and Christopher Watkinson finished sixth 2:17.36.

In the women’s events, Loughborough’s ladies were all on form for lifetime bests in the heats; the quartet of Julia Beckett, Rebecca Shaw, Georgina Fromson and Emma Boret all achieving in the 100m Butterfly. Beckett qualified for the final but withdrew to concentrate on other events.

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, 4x200m Freestyle Dean Milwain, 400m Freestyle, 4x200m Freestyle Caitlin McClatchey, 100m Freestyle Julia Becket, 4x100m Freestyle James Goddard, 200m Individual Medley, 200m Backstroke Kate Haywood, 100m Breaststroke Ross Davenport, 200m Freestyle Euan Dale, 400m Individual Medle Gemma Spofforth (Florida University, made final Trial preparations at Loughborough), 100m Backstroke