Olympic silver medallist Keri-Anne Payne smashed the British Record in the women’s 1500m Freestyle yesterday, shaving eight seconds off the previous time at the British Gas Swimming Championships.
Returning to the water, she then competed in the semi final of the 200m Freestyle on day three of the Swimming Champs in Manchester.
Leading from the gun in the 1500m Freestyle, Payne was two seconds up after 100m and built on her lead stroke by stroke.
After steadying her stroke, the 23-year-old continued to push ahead and with just 300m to go she held a seven second lead over the field.
Smashing Rebecca Cooke’s eight-year standing British Record, Payne touched home in 16:06.67 finishing ahead of Eleanor Faulkner (16:15.29) and Cassie Patten (16:15.33).
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Speaking after the race, she said: “I kind of had the record in mind but didn’t think I was going to go that far under it.
“I was fine with lane one in the final. My coach said to go 17 minute for the final and I just did that. It was so nice that every single person on poolside was waving me on and supporting me
“I’m now looking for a good 800 and hopefully a PB to get qualification for the world qualifier.”
The battle for the women’s 100m Backstroke proved an exciting event with Gemma Spofforth holding off friend and rival Lizzie Simmonds to take the gold.
Simmonds led at the turn but Spofforth proved herself worthy of the World Champion title, powering through the last 50m to pull away with 25m to win in a time of 1.00.52.
Simmonds took silver in 1.01.16 and Loughborough University’s Rachel Lefley just pipped Georgia Davies to the bronze after finishing in 1:02.02.
The final event of the session was a fight to the finish with Bath University’s Stacey Tadd storming her last 25m to win the 100m Breaststroke final ahead of Kate Haywood who won the silver medal.
Tadd, who secured the gold in a time of 1:09.97, said afterwards: “I really didn’t expect that. Kate is so quick on the first 50m so I knew if I stuck with her I would be close to it.
“I heard the crowd and just kept going. It has given me massive confidence for the 200m which is my main event.”
Haywood secured a time of 1:10.36 whilst Edinburgh University’s Kerry Buchan won the bronze.
Rebecca Adlington was the fastest qualifier in the 200m Freestyle semi final after winning by 0.01 seconds.
The final looks set to be a tight contest, with Jo Jackson, Hannah Miley. Keri-anne Payne, Caitlin McClatchey, Rebecca Turner and Sasha Matthews all progressing within 1.10 seconds of Adlington’s time.
Jessica Whittington, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
