MANCHESTER, England, March 11. THE penultimate day of competition at the British Long Course National Championships, which is doubling as a world championship selection meet, featured more world-class swims, led by Rebecca Adlington's speedy 800 freestyle victory.
After an impressive 4:02 in the 400 freestyle earlier in the meet and a surprise victory in the 200 free, Adlington posted an 8:20.23 in the longer distance. Adlington had owned the top time in the world with an 8:23.85 from February. Jazz Carlin gave Great Britain the top two spots on the world list with a second-place time of 8:25.67. Kerri-Anne Payne, who had won the 1500 earlier in the meet, was third in 8:29.98. Though Payne had won the 1500, the British selection policy dictated that Payne had to qualify in an Olympic event in order to swim the 1500 at the world championships. Payne finished third in the 200 freestyle earlier in the meet, so she may be put on the world roster for the 800 freestyle relay, and could possibly be allowed to swim the mile in Shanghai.
After missing out on the qualifying time needed to swim the individual 100 freestyle at worlds on Wednesday, Adam Brown got below the needed time to earn a spot on the world roster in the 50 freestyle. Brown, who will compete at NCAA championships in the United States for Auburn University in less than two weeks, won with a 22.29. The time is the third-fastest in the world behind a pair of Frenchmen (Fred Bousquet's 22.07 and Alain Bernard's 22.14). Owen Morgan was second in 22.67, and Simon Burnett finished third in 22.79.
Stephanie Proud handily won the women's 200 backstroke in 2:09.41, the fifth-fastest time of 2011. In second place was Elizabeth Simmonds in 2:11.67. Simmonds has been faster this year with a 2:09.28 in January. Third place in today's race went to Karley Mann with a 2:12.54.
Michael Rock took the 100 fly title in 52.70, the fourth-fastest time in the world. Placng second was Antony James in 53.14 and in third was James Doolan with a 53.68.
Jessica Sylvester was the winner of the women's 50 butterfly final in 27.37, just a fraction ahead of Rachael Kelly's 27.44. In third was Lucy Worrall with a 27.70.
In semifinal events, Kathryn Johnstone will be the top seed in the final of the women's 50 breast after posting the top semifinal time of 32.32. Lowri Tynan was second 32.63 and Sara Lougher was third with a 32.64.
Amy Smith and Fran Halsall will duel in the women's 50 freestyle final tomorrow, with Smith posting the top semifinal time of 25.75 and Halsall right behind in 25.88. Georgina Heyn swam the third-fastest semifinal time with a 26.08.
Liam Tancock will go into tomorrow's 50 backstroke final as the top seed, based on his semifinal time of 25.87. Taking second and third spots in the final will be Craig McNally (26.36) and Luke Wood (26.43).
In multi-class disability events, Natalie Massey was listed first in the women's 100 breaststroke with a 1:25.47. Thomas Young was listed first in the men's 100 breast with a 1:27.79.