British Championships: Matt Richards Moves Past Olympic Champion Tom Dean To Win 200 Free; Amelie Blocksidge Celebrates 14th Birthday By Going 16:19 In 1500
Matt Richards came past long-time leader Tom Dean in the final metres to win the 200 free with the Olympic champion second as the British Championships concluded in Sheffield.
With his time of 1:44.83, Richards went third all-time in the British rankings behind Dean with his 1:44.22 in Tokyo where Duncan Scott registered 1:44.26 for silver.
Dean finished in 1:44.93 as both men were inside the cut for the World Championships in Fukuoka.
James Guy was third in 1:45.85 with Scott – swimming from lane one – outside the medals in 1:45.90.
Dean has never won the national 200 free title with silver in the last two years behind Scott.
Dean, Scott, Guy and Richards have 14 Olympic medals between them, underlining the depth of quality on show at Ponds Forge.
Matt Richards: Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
The tone was set in the B final won by Evan Jones, of the University of Stirling in 1:48.24.
Dean led throughout and was through the 150 in 1:17.87 with Richards in 1:18.25, Guy and Scott next through.
But Richards surfed Dean’s wave before making his move to take the touch and upgrade his bronze medals in the 50 and 100.
He said:
“Deano’s a world-class 200 freestyler – so are Duncan and Jimmy (Guy). All those guys have won individual titles and medals at world-stage events multiple times now.
“So to top the podium today is great and it’s a huge bouncing block into the summer now.
“Still lots of work to do: there were mistakes in that race that can get better and that’s just a great place to.
“We’re seeing so such depth in the 100 and 200 free now in Britain – that’s extremely exciting for those relays and I think that’s been a real push for British Swimming over the last few years and it’s really working out.”
Blocksidge Gets Ovation After Showstopping 1500
Amelie Blocksidge marked her 14th birthday by swimming the longest race in the pool after a week that has seen her win silver in 8:38 in the 800 and fifth in the 400, both British age group records.
The City of Salford swimmer led through 400 in 4:29.75 after she and Fleur Lewis pulled away from the field.
Blocksidge reached halfway in the lead and moved away from Lewis to go through 1000 almost two seconds ahead.
The teenager moved further and further ahead to take victory in 16:19.67, more than six seconds ahead of Lewis and the performance earned her an ovation at Ponds Forge.
Lewis was next home in 16:25.78 with Michaella Glenister rounding out the podium in 16:44.51.
It was a 12-second PB for Blocksidge who beamed:
“I’m really happy, it’s the best birthday present really, isn’t it? I’m over the moon.”
The Ponds Forge crowd were cheering her along, something she was aware of.
“I could hear quite a lot of it: I’ve got lots of my family in the crowd and got my granddad and granny in Australia watching me.
“It helps me a lot knowing I’ve got people behind me cheering me on, yeah, it really helps.”
Blocksidge has mingled with Olympic and world champions in Sheffield this week, and she smiled:
“It’s really good swimming with Olympians, especially in the 400IM, a really good experience, loved it.”
And her ambitions for the future?
“To break more British records!”
Morgan Claims Backstroke Clean Sweep
Oliver Morgan: Photo Courtesy: Morgan Harlow/British Swimming
Ollie Morgan was looking for a backstroke clean sweep having won both the 50 and 100 albeit without registering a consideration time.
He led the way into the final in 1:58.78 ahead of Olympic bronze medallist Luke Greenbank in 1:59.12, the pair the only men inside 2mins.
Cameron Brooker led through 50 in 27.07 with Brodie Williams going ahead from lane two in 56.46 at the halfway point.
The Commonwealth champion still led at the final turn in 1:26.45 ahead of Charlie Brown and Brooker.
It looked as though Williams was set for victory but Morgan came back with each stroke, passing Greenbank and then got the touch in 1:57.17, just 0.01 ahead of Williams (1:57.18).
Greenbank was third in 1:57.67.
While Morgan completed the backstroke sweep, it presents a real selector poser given no swimmer has posted a consideration time.
Britain will want to ensure the men’s medley relay book their spot for Paris 2024 in Fukuoka so who to go with?
Peters Flies To Top Of Rankings
Jacob Peters completed the 50/100 double with a commanding win in 22.89, 0.14 outside Ben Proud’s british record of 22.75 set at Budapest 2017 en-route to the world title.
It elevated Peters to the top of the world rankings ahead of Thomas Ceccon and his 23.13 from the Lausanne Swim Cup in February.
Proud – winner of the 50 free on Saturday – was second in 23.37 with Lewis Fraser completing the podium in 23.62.
Hanlon Wins Second Gold
Kara Hanlon: Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
To book an outright slot, one of the field had to do something no other British woman has done and go inside 1:06.
Kara Hanlon led the way into the final with the Scot seeking to land the 50/100 double following victory in the opening event of the meet.
Imogen Clark reached halfway ahead of Hanlon by just 0.01 in 31.53 but the University of Edinburgh swimmer came back on the second 50 to touch in 1:06.83.
Clark was second in 1:07.92 with Angharad Evans next home in 1:08.05.
Scottish Record For Macinnes
A stringent qualification time means that to make or be considered for the team would entail the first journey inside 57 for a British woman.
Keanna Macinnes set the pace as the only woman inside 59 in prelims and she was second at halfway in 27.23, 0.16 behind leader Harriet Jones and ahead of Laura Stephens.
A tight race down the second 50 saw Macinnes take the win in 57.97 for a new Scottish record ahead of Stephens (58.14) and Jones (58.49).
