2018 SWIM ENGLAND NATIONAL WINTER CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Friday, December 14th – Sunday, December 16th
- Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield
- SCM
- SwimSwam Meet Preview
- Meet Site
- Draft Entry List
- Day 1 Recap
- Live Results
While the Short Course World Championships are concluding in Hangzhou, China tomorrow, British, Irish and Canadian swimmers are throwing down impressive performances of their own at the Swim England Championships in Sheffield.
We already reported the 50m freestyle textile record from Anna Hopkin here, as well as Imogen Clark‘s British Record in the women’s 50m breast here. But, there were additional noteworthy performances from high-profile athletes as day 2’s finals at Ponds Forge unfolded.
One head-turning feat came thanks to Olympic medalist James Guy, who posted the fastest 200m fly time for gold. Firing off a finals effort of 1:52.08, Guy hacked well over 2 seconds off of his previous lifetime best to score a new British Textile National Record.
His time sits only behind 2 marks from the 2009 supersuit era, with the top swim ever, a 1:51.27, belonging to Joe Roebuck, while Michael Rock owns the 2nd in 1:51.32 from the same time period.
For perspective, Guy’s effort this evening would have checked-in as the 7th fastest of the Short Course World Championships final in Hangzhou.
Of note, Edward Mildred broke the British Junior Record in the 200m fly, taking .69 off of his morning effort of 1:57.52 to clock an even faster record of 1:56.83 at night en route to 6th place in the race.
Commonwealth Games champion James Wilby was also in the pool tonight, producing a gold medal effort in the men’s 100m breaststroke. After notching a solid top seeded time of 57.81 in prelims, Wilby sliced .20 off to produce a podium-topping 57.61. He was the only swimmer under 58 in the pack, with his final result checking in as a new personal best.
Wilby’s effort now moves the Loughborough athletes into the #4 spot among the all-time-British performers list.
Manchester’s Chloe Golding proved too much to handle int he women’s 200m backstroke, as the 20-year-old crushed a new personal best of 2:04.57 for gold. Heading into this meet, Golding was positioned as the 14th fastest British performer all-time with her PB of 2:06.61. Tonight, however, she rocketed up to the 5th fastest British performer in history with a huge 2:04.57.
Commonwealth Games medalist Holly Hibbott did her thing in the women’s 400m freestyle, taking the win in 3:59.83. Her previous personal best rested at the 4:02.25 notched just last month, so the 19-year-old Stockport Metro swimmer is on the upward trajectory in this event as of late.
After her 50m breaststroke bronze tonight, which you can read more about in the Imogen Clark post linked above, Kayla Sanchez wowed the crowd with a big-time swim in the women’s 100m IM. The 17-year-old Canadian cranked out a winning effort of 58.24 a new personal best and Canadian National Record.
The 50m free and 100m free World Junior Record holder overtook the previous Canadian NR of 59.28 set by Julia Wilkinson back in 2009, which means Sanchez’s performance here in Sheffield tonight cut down another supersuit era mark.
Finishing behind Sanchez this evening was Emily Crane, who hit the wall in 1:00.97, while another 17-year-old, Athena Clayson, touched in 1:02.67 for bronze.
Additional Winners:
- Tobias Robinson nailed the winning 1500m freestyle time, clocking 14:39.86 for a mark just .40 off of his own personal best.
- In the men’s 200 IM final, the Litchfield brothers fought for the top spot. 23-year old Max won the 200 IM in 1:53.21, while Joe took 2nd in 1:55.54.
- Visiting French swimmer Marie Wattel got the job done in the women’s 100m fly, taking the gold in 57.22.
- The men’s 50m back saw Thomas Howdle win the race in 23.61.
- Canadian swimmer Yuri Kisil took the men’s 100m freestyle easily in 46.86, the only time of the field under 48.0.
- Loughborough’s men’s 4x50m freestyle relay won in 1:27.71, while the women’s 4x50m freestyle relay took gold in 1:38.52.
Perhaps some of these swimmers should have been at Worlds? Shows that SC Worlds lack a lot of the key contenders. Also illustrates the need for reform of the system. British Swimming just decides none of these guys get chance to be a Worlds medallist. Some will never reach that level in LCM but could in SCM.
British Swimming are idiots. No World short course, no Youth Olympics but instead endlessly sending swimmers away on joyless training camps…and they wonder why they have an athlete retention issue 😂
Incorrect James guy setting a brutish textile record.
James Hickham went 1.51.8 (I think – was definitely 1.51 at the same time he was 51.01 world record in the 100) in 1998 and broke the world record.
Hickman’s best time was 1.52.2
1.51.76
Paris France
March 28th 1998
World record
I remember this but couldn’t remember the time. He had amazing turns and underwaters before a certain guy called Phelps ever arrived on the scene. In SCM Hickman was bad ass but he didn’t have the same level LCM possible a lack of height and reach. He had a high turnover I remember.
Some really promising youngesters swimming tonight.
Mildred’s Junior record particularly impressive as he has (I think) 3 years eligibility left. Broke the 15yo age group by 3s today. Caitlin Ebbage (2005) came very close to taking down Lizzie Simmonds’ age group mark from 2004 in the 200bk (2.11). Sophie Freeman (2004) became the first British 14yo under 60s in the 100fly, and almost skipped the 59s altogether with a huge PB of 59.01.
Away from the real youngsters 21yo Thomas Howdle has had an eye catching few months. I can’t find record of him swimming backstroke at all between 2012 & 2018 – He popped up 12 months ago with a SCM 25.52 50 bk, didnt swim SCM again… Read more »
Think you have taken the prelim results as final results for mens 200IM, Litchfield took the win in 1.53