Press Release courtesy of the City of Manchester
The City of Manchester Swim Team (COMAST) will take on some of the world’s best swimmers, including Olympic and World Champion Adam Peaty MBE, at the 2017 Manchester International Swim Meeting this weekend.
The long-course (50m) event, taking place at the Manchester Aquatics Centre on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd October, will give COMAST swimmers the opportunity to test themselves against swimming’s elite and evaluate their progress in the race for 2018 Commonwealth Games qualification.
The event will feature eight members of the 2017 World Championships Team GB squad including world record holder in the 50m and 100m breastroke, Peaty, awarded an MBE on October 11th, making his season debut in Manchester.
Chloe Golding, a member of COMAST and studying Sports Science and Physiology at Manchester Metropolitan University, will take part in the 100m & 200m Backstroke, 200m Individual Medley and 100m Butterfly. Golding, originally from Worcestershire, has been living and training in Manchester since September 2016 and acknowledges the benefits of having a home swim meet with a world class field:
“It’s really good to be able to race a high-level meet at this early point in the season it really helps for the rest of the season. To be surrounded by people at such a high-level like that it’s really motivational for us as younger, less experienced swimmers.
It’s such a great pool and great environment. I raced in the short-course meet last year and now it’s a long-course event leading into the Commonwealth Games trials in December.”
Ashley Hogg, originally from Winsford, now studying Chemistry at the University of Manchester, will be swimming the 200m & 400m freestyle:
“It’s a really opportune meet for people to test themselves early in the season. A lot of the high performance teams from around the country will be coming because it gives them a chance to practice their race details whilst still under training for the trials in December.”
The 2017 Manchester International Swim Meet is presented by Manchester City Council and the City of Manchester Aquatics Swim Team, with swimmers competing for a total prize pot of £10,000.
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Schools, Culture and Leisure, said: “The Manchester International Swim Meet offers the perfect opportunity for all Mancunians to enjoy watching world-class athletes like Adam Peaty and Siobhan-Marie O’Connor in competitive action – and to find out how you can meet your own sporting goals at Manchester Aquatics Centre.”
The Meet will be held at the Manchester Aquatics Centre on October 21st & 22nd. Tickets can be purchased at the Aquatic Centre on the day.
For more information on the event, visit cityofmanchesterswimteam.co.uk