2017 British Swimming Championships: Day 5 Prelims Recap

2017 BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, April 18th – Sunday, April 23rd
• Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield
• LCM
• Qualifying Times Analysis (for this meet)
• Qualifying Times Analysis (for 2017 World Championships GBR squad)
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheets
• Live Stream
• Live Results

WOMEN’S 400 FREE – PRELIMS

• FINA A – 4:10.57
• British 1st place standard – 4:03.43
• British consideration standard – 4:06.86
• Top 8:
  1. Holly Hibbott, 4:12.49
  2. Jazz Carlin, 4:12.71
  3. Hannah Miley, 4:13.12
  4. Eleanor Faulkner, 4:13.13
  5. Camilla Hattersley, 4:14.90
  6. Kathryn Greenslade, 4:15.64
  7. Abbie Houston, 4:16.90
  8. Monique Oliver, 4:17.01

None of the top swimmers really turned on the gas this morning, as the swimmers clearly cruised through prelims to save their energy for finals. Stockport’s Holly Hibbot (4:12.49) earned her spot in lane 4 tonight, finishing a couple of tenths ahead of Olympic medalist Jazz Carlin.

Bath University’s Carlin, who won the 800 free earlier in the meet, turned in a pedestrian 4:12.71. Both Hibbott and Carlin should have a lot more in the tank, as they’ve each swam in the 4:10-range already this season. Not far behind for 3rd was fellow Olympian Hannah Miley (4:13.12) of Aberdeen, who took on this race shortly before the 200 IM.

MEN’S 200 IM – PRELIMS

• FINA A – 2:00.22
• British 1st place standard – 1:57.11
• British consideration standard – 1:58.15
• Top 8:
  1. Max Litchfield, 2:00.04
  2. Mark Szaranek, 2:00.65
  3. Dan Wallace, 2:01.08
  4. Joe Litchfield, 2:01.14
  5. Jarvis Parkinson, 2:01.20
  6. Xavier Mohammed, 2:01.36
  7. Duncan Scott, 2:01.71
  8. Martyn Walton, 2:02.59

Sheffield’s Max Litchfield cruised to the 22nd fastest 200 IM in the world rankings this morning, leading prelims with his 2:00.04. Litchfield will look to add the 200 IM British Record to his resume after taking down the 400 IM record earlier in the meet. It currently stands at a 1:57.12 done by James Goddard in 2009.

Edinburgh’s Mark Szaranek will look to challenge Litchfield in this race after placing 2nd behind Litchfield in the 400 IM. Also in the mix will be the University of Stirling’s Dan Wallace, who formerly trained with Szaranek at the University of Florida, and Wallace’s teammate Duncan Scott.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – PRELIMS

• FINA A – 2:13.41
• British 1st place standard – 2:09.56
• British consideration standard – 2:10.75
• Top 8:
  1. Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, 2:12.39
  2. Hannah Miley, 2:14.05
  3. Abbie Wood, 2:14.14
  4. Rosie Rudin, 2:14.67
  5. Molly Renshaw, 2:15.55
  6. Georgia Coates, 2:15.97
  7. Constance Dean, 2:16.00
  8. Katie Matts, 2:16.35

Bath University’s Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist in this event, cruised to the top seed with a 2:12.39. That’s a season best time for O’Connor, moving her up to 17th in the world this year. O’Connor will no doubt be chasing Katinka Hosszu’s world-leading 2:09.38 in the final.

Aberdeen’s Hannah Miley was back in action after a quick turnaround from the 400 free, establishing herself as the 2nd seed for finals. Sheffield’s Rosie Rudin, who won the 200 back earlier in the meet, will be looking for another medal here after qualifying 4th behind Loughborough’s Abbie Wood.

MEN’S 50 FREE – PRELIMS

• FINA A – 22.47
• British 1st place standard – 21.54
• British consideration standard – 22.00
• Top 8:
  1. Ben Proud, 21.64
  2. Thomas Fannon, 22.28
  3. (T-3) Miles Munro, 22.68
  4. (T-3) Jack Thorpe, 22.68
  5. Alexander Bowen, 22.69
  6. James Oxborrow, 22.83
  7. (T-7) Daniel Speers, 22.84
  8. (T-7) Callum Bain, 22.84

After a disappointing swim in the 100 free earlier in the meet, Ben Proud of Energy Standard bounced back on Saturday morning to lead prelims of the 50 free. Proud’s 21.64 moves him up to #3 in the world rankings this year, as he now sits behind only Russia’s Vlad Morozov (21.44) and Australia’s Cameron McEvoy (21.55). He was also just a tenth shy of his personal best, which stands at a 21.54 from the Rio Olympics.

Plymouth Leander’s Thomas Fannon was the 2nd fastest man of the morning in 22.28, just missing his personal best time by 4 hundredths of a second. If he can dip down to a 22-flat or better, he’ll be under the British consideration standard.

WOMEN’S 50 BACK – PRELIMS

• FINA A – 28.52
• British 1st place standard – N/A
• British consideration standard – N/A
• Top 8:
  1. Georgia Davies, 28.09
  2. Kathleen Dawson, 28.47
  3. Lucy Hope, 28.69
  4. Ekaterina Avramova, 28.87
  5. Lauren Quigley, 28.95
  6. Harriet West, 29.04
  7. Anna Maine, 29.07
  8. Molly Allen, 29.10

Loughborough’s Georgia Davies, the 100 back champ, and the University of Stirling’s Kathleen Dawson, the 100 back runner-up were the fastest 2 swimmers through 50 back prelims. Davies was just off her season best, a 27.98 that ranks 11th in the world, as she clocked in at 28.09 ahead of Dawson’s 28.47.

Also in the mix will be Edinburgh’s Lucy Hope, who put up a 28-mid for 3rd seed. Ealing’s Ekaterina Avramova and City of Liverpool’s Lauren Quigley joined her under the 29-second mark this morning.

Woking’s junior standout Anna Maine made her mark with the 7th fastest time of the morning. She could be in contention for a medal, as she’s been as fast as 28.56 before.

MEN’S 800 FREE – TIMED FINALS

• FINA A – 7:54.31
• British 1st place standard – N/A
• British consideration standard – N/A
• This event will be recapped after tonight’s fastest heat.