News
Day 5 Smith and Hamilton Finish on a High21 Mar 2009
Day 5
Lewis Smith and Craig Hamilton finished their week at the British Championships on a high last night, both producing fantastic final performances in the last session of the meet.
Smith, contesting the 400 IM, had qualified fastest for the final after a comfortable heat swim of 4:21,74. In a class field, Smith swam the race of his life to finish second, breaking the Scottish Record in a new lifetime best of 4:14.06, five seconds faster than his previous best, now making him the second fastest male swimmer that Britain has seen over 400 IM.
After the race Smith was delighted,
"I have been feeling good all week and have got personal bests in races which are not really my main events. This has given me huge confidence coming into the last day.
"I really felt I was in the race from the start and I pushed hard to close the gap on Thomas (Haffield). I have been racing him at this event since Age Groups and while he really move up last year, I am beginning to feel that I am now catching him up, especially with performances like that.
"In terms of getting selected for Rome, of course I want to go; that is my aim. If I have to go faster at the second trials (Scottish Nationals in June) then that is what I must do, but after tonight, I really believe it is possible."
Craig Hamilton took part in the final event of the night and the competition, the Mens 1500 Freestyle. In his first senior final. Hamilton finished 4th place overall, swimming a full 15 seconds faster than he had in the heat on Thursday. It was a fantastic swim for Hamilton, with his time of 15:37.07 a new 17 year old Scottish Record and well inside the European Junior qualifying time, with Hamilton the fastest of the boys eligible to take part in the prestigious championships taking place in Prague in July.
In other swims on the final day, Sally Wood (12th, 4:57.79), Helen McRoberts (20th, 5:02.45), Andrew Haslett (10th, 4:31.96) and Ross Woolley (24th, 4:35.88) all contested the 400 IM and Sean Fraser (11th, 1:06.36) and James Clegg (13th, 1:03.91) took part in the MD 100 Freestyle events.
Swimmers are back in the pool tomorrow preparing for the next block of training with the main focus for the 18/unders being the Scottish National Age Group Championships which take place in Edinburgh from 8-12th April.
Lewis Smith and Craig Hamilton finished their week at the British Championships on a high last night, both producing fantastic final performances in the last session of the meet.
Smith, contesting the 400 IM, had qualified fastest for the final after a comfortable heat swim of 4:21,74. In a class field, Smith swam the race of his life to finish second, breaking the Scottish Record in a new lifetime best of 4:14.06, five seconds faster than his previous best, now making him the second fastest male swimmer that Britain has seen over 400 IM.
After the race Smith was delighted,
"I have been feeling good all week and have got personal bests in races which are not really my main events. This has given me huge confidence coming into the last day.
"I really felt I was in the race from the start and I pushed hard to close the gap on Thomas (Haffield). I have been racing him at this event since Age Groups and while he really move up last year, I am beginning to feel that I am now catching him up, especially with performances like that.
"In terms of getting selected for Rome, of course I want to go; that is my aim. If I have to go faster at the second trials (Scottish Nationals in June) then that is what I must do, but after tonight, I really believe it is possible."
Craig Hamilton took part in the final event of the night and the competition, the Mens 1500 Freestyle. In his first senior final. Hamilton finished 4th place overall, swimming a full 15 seconds faster than he had in the heat on Thursday. It was a fantastic swim for Hamilton, with his time of 15:37.07 a new 17 year old Scottish Record and well inside the European Junior qualifying time, with Hamilton the fastest of the boys eligible to take part in the prestigious championships taking place in Prague in July.
In other swims on the final day, Sally Wood (12th, 4:57.79), Helen McRoberts (20th, 5:02.45), Andrew Haslett (10th, 4:31.96) and Ross Woolley (24th, 4:35.88) all contested the 400 IM and Sean Fraser (11th, 1:06.36) and James Clegg (13th, 1:03.91) took part in the MD 100 Freestyle events.
Swimmers are back in the pool tomorrow preparing for the next block of training with the main focus for the 18/unders being the Scottish National Age Group Championships which take place in Edinburgh from 8-12th April.
