The British Olympic Trials kick off the beginning of the trials season as the first major swimming nation to hold its qualifying meet. As the host country the Brits have the advantage of holding its trials in the pool that will soon be the epicenter of swimming at the London Olympics. The event is an open event, meaning athletes from other nations are allowed to compete. To determine the British Olympic team all foreigners will be regulated to a separate final at the end of each day’s final session.
Finals:
Men’s 400 IM
It was Roberto Pavoni who claims the first spot on the British Olympic Team with a time of 4:12.43. That time ranks him first in the world at this early stage of the year. That time also betters his personal best of 4:13.37 from last year’s British Nationals. Pavoni took the lead after the backstroke and used a strong breaststroke leg (1:10.24) to pull away and claim victory.
Joseph Roebuck claimed second in 4:14.48, just off his personal best from last year. The British SC record holder in the event had the fastest butterfly leg in the field at 56.39. His time moves him into third in the world so far this season. Both men achieved the Olympic Standard of 4:16.46.
Finishing in the always dreaded third spot was up and comer Matthew Johnson of City of Sheffield. The youngest finished in 4:16.53 just holding off fourth place finisher Thomas Haffield of City of Cardiff who clocked in at 4:16.55
Men’s 400 Free
Robert Renwick moves into fourth in the world this year with a time of 3:46.73 to claim victory in the 400 freestyle. Redwick, the British record holder in the 200 free, bettered his personal (and textile) best by .02 from the 2009 World Championships. Redwick’s time also sets a new Scottish record.
Claiming second was David Carry in 3:48.36. That time also slips under the qualifying standard of 3:48.92 meaning the Brits will take both gentlemen to the Olympics.
Ieuan Lloyd finishes right behind in third with a time of 3:48.86.
Women’s 400 IM
Garioch’s Hannah Miley blows away the field in the 400 IM with a stellar 4:32.67. That time easily becomes the top time in the world this year by nearly four seconds. That time was almost two seconds faster than her time from last year’s World Championships were she claimed silver behind the United States’ Elizabeth Beisel. Miley will be a favorite to claim a medal in front of her home country this summer in this event.
Aimee WIlmott of Middlesboro takes second and earns her birth on the British Olympic Team with a solid 4:37.48. That time boosts her to fourth in the world in the early part of 2012. Her time is also a personal best.
Stephanie Proud finished third in 4:43.10, a much stronger 200 backstroker, Proud will look to make her first Olympic team later in the week in her specialty.
Semi-Finals:
Women’s 100 Fly
Beckenham’s Ellen Gandy posted a swift 57.47 in semi-final action. The Australian-based Gandy used a strong backhalf to get past the previous top performer of the year Francesca Halsall. Her time fell just short of Halsall’s national record of 57.40 from the 2010 European Championships.
Halsall posted a 58.31 in the semis, dropping seven tenths of her preliminary swim this morning. Halsall was out fast at the 50 and most likely backed off down the stretch to save her energy for finals.
Also in contention for an Olympic spot in the event is Jemma Lowe who finished in 58.79. Like Halsall, Lowe is probably saving some energy for finals and will likely push both Gandy and Halsall for an Olympic bid.
Men’s 100 Breast
The final event of the qualifying events went to Michael Jamieson in 1:00.66. That time moves him into second in the world this season and is just off his personal best from 2010.
In a closely bunched semifinal the next group of athletes finished within .09 of each other. Kristopher Gilchrist took second in 1:01.14; Andrew Willis was third in 1:01.22 and Craig Benson in fourth at 1:01.23.
A number of other swimmers were also under 1:02 in what looks to be a very wide open event, the only question will be if the athletes can get under the Olympic qualifying standard.
Guest Finals
Men’s 400 IM
Austria’s Markus Rogan cruised to an easy win in 4:17.60. That time fell just shy of his preliminary swim of 4:17.16 which ranked him ninth in world this year.
South Africa’s Michael Meyer finished second in 4:21.96 while Alexis Santos of Portugal rounded out the top three in 4:22.41.
Women’s 100 Fly
Ellen Gandy’s top ranked time of 57.47 was short lived as Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom rattled off a 56.79 later in the evening. The world record holder made a statement in the early part of the season as the first women under 57 this year. The time was also Sjostrom’s fastest textile time.
Poland’s Otylia Jedrzejcak took second. The former world record holder and 2004 Olympic champion in the 200 butterfly touched in 59.00.
Li Tao of Singapore was third in 59.14.
Men’s 400 Free
World record holder Paul Biedermann of Germany finished first in 3:50.95. That time moves him into 15th in the world for the year.
Serbian Velimir Stjepanovic was second in 3:53.24 with South Korea’s Sangjin Jang finished third in 3:55.40.
Women’s 400 IM
Kathryn Meaklim of South Africa dipped just under 4:40 to touch in 4:39.98.
The Czech Republic’s Barbora Zavadova was second in 4:41.76 with Grainne Murphy of Ireland took third in 4:44.77.
Men’s 100 Breast
Germany’s Hendrik Feldwehr won the 100 breast in 1:00.48.
Second went to Xiayan Li of China in 1:01.93 and third went to Laurent Carnol of Luxembourg in 1:02.55.