LONDON, England, March 3. IN the first event swum in the London 2012 Olympic pool, the British began the process of choosing its Olympic roster.
FINALS
Men's 400 IM
Roberto Pavoni captured the men's 400 IM final title with a strong time of 4:12.43. That swim beat the previously top-ranked time of 4:13.78 set by Daiya Seto of Japan in February. The swim cut nearly a second from Pavoni's lifetime best of 4:13.37, and jumped him to 23rd all time in the event. Joseph Roebuck, meanwhile, placed second in the event with a 4:14.48 to take third this year in the rankings. Both Pavoni and Roebuck cleared the Olympic Qualifying Standard of 4:16.46 to provide the British with two spots in the event.
Matthew Johnson (4:16.53), Thomas Haffield (4:16.55), Lewis Smith (4:18.19), Daniel Wallace (4:18.88), Xavier Mohammed (4:21.81) and Adam Harrington (4:24.80) also swam in the finale. In preliminary swims, where international competitors were allowed to test the waters of the new facility, Austria's Markus Rogan had the top qualifying time with a 4:17.18.
Men's 400 free
Robert Renwick won the men's 400 freestyle crown with a 3:46.73 to move to fifth in the world rankings this year. He also bettered the Olympic Qualifying Standard of 3:48.92 in the event. David Carry initially looked to have picked up a second qualifying spot for Britain with a second-place time of 3:48.36. However, British Swimming has created a multi-tiered selection process with a tougher qualifying time than just the FINA A cut for the second-place finisher at this Trials. Britain will run another set of qualifying to fill the rest of the spots in June.
Ieuan Lloyd (3:48.86), Daniel Fogg (3:51.15), Thomas Sunter (3:51.47), Alfie Howes (3:53.59), Jack Burnell (3:54.04) and Richard Charlesworth (3:56.85) also swam in the finale. The top international swimmer in prelims proved to be Paul Biedermann of Germany, who qualified third with a 3:51.32.
Women's 400 IM
Hannah Miley demolished the field in the distance medley with a scintillating time of 4:32.67 in the women's 400 IM. That swim fell just a second short of her lifetime best of 4:31.33, but is the 14th fastest of all time in the event. She also far surpassed the previous top-ranked time this year of 4:36.06 set by Katinka Hosszu last month. Aimee Wilmott took second overall tonight in 4:37.48, as both the top two swimmers cleared the Olympic Qualifying Standard of 4:41.75.
Stephanie Proud (4:43.10), Sophie Smith (4:44.41), Keri-Anne Payne (4:44.74), Elena Sheridan (4:48.61), Emma Smithurst (4:49.57) and Sally Wood (4:49.91) completed the championship field. Kathryn Meaklim of South Africa topped the international contingent in prelims with a 4:40.48.
GUEST FINALS
Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden crushed the women's 100 fly finale with a sterling time of 56.79. That swim closed to within a second of her world record effort of 56.06, and came close to the textile best of 56.47 posted by Dana Vollmer of the U.S. at last year's world championships. Austria's Markus Rogan captured the men's 400 IM in 4:17.60. Germany's Paul Biedermann captured the men's 400 free guest finale with a time of 3:50.95. South Africa's Kathryn Meaklim won the women's 400 IM in 4:39.98. Germany's Hendrik Feldwehr then won the men's 100 breast in 1:00.48.
MULTI-DISABILITY FINALS
Jessica-Jane Applegate won the women's 200 free finale in the S14 division with a time of 2:14.71. IPC Swimming does not list a world record in the category for the event. Helen Dolphin also swam in the finale as part of the S5 division, posting a 3:50.15. Daniel Pepper claimed the men's 200 free S14 title with a 2:02.73, also in an event with does not have a world record for comparison. Anthony Stephens posted the top S5 time with a 2:53.22.
Eleanor Simmonds was listed first in the women's 400 free finale with a 5:27.09 in the S6 division, while Hannah Russell posted a 4:46.76 in the S12 division. Heather Frederiksen clocked a 5:01.69 in the S8 division, while Tully Kearney earned a 4:51.04 in the S10 division. Susannah Rodgers (S7/5:27.39) and Stephanie Millward (S9/4:46.73) also had top times in their divisions.
Jonathan Fox took a run at the world record in the men's 400 free S7 division. He clocked a 4:47.46, just off his record of 4:47.16 from last year. Oliver Hynd led the S8 division tonight in 4:28.62, while Robert Welbourn posted a 4:11.73 in the S10 division. Matthew Wylie clocked a 4:41.98 in the S9 division.
SEMIFINALS
Women's 100 fly
Ellen Gandy scorched the semifinal rounds with a 57.47 for the top seed heading into finals. That swim cleared Fran Halsall's 57.67 from last month for the top time in the world this year. The swim clipped Gandy's lifetime best of 57.49, and moved her closer to Elaine Breeden (57.46) for 22nd in the all time rankings. She also neared Halsall's national record of 57.40.
Halsall qualified second in 58.31, while Jemma Lowe (58.79) and Jessica Sylvester (59.13) finished third and fourth. Rachael Kelly (59.78), Sophie Allen (59.80), Jessica Dickons (59.98) and Lucy Worrall (1:00.24) also earned spots in the finale.
In preliminary heats, Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom threw down a 58.28 for the fastest time in the qualifying rounds. Her best time this year remains a 57.91 from Sweden in February. Additionally, Lyndsay De Paul of the U.S. qualified fourth with a 59.13.
Men's 100 breast
Michael Jamieson paced semifinals with a 1:00.66, moving to second in the world rankings behind Daniel Gyurta's 1:00.43 from January. Kristopher Gilchrist placed second in 1:01.14, while Andrew Willis (1:01.22) and Craig Benson (1:01.23) took third and fourth.
Daniel Sliwinski (1:01.62), Richard Webb (1:01.67), Russell Smith (1:01.73) and James Broady (1:01.83) completed the rest of the finale field. Germany's Hendrik Feldwehr posted the fastest international time during prelims with a second-place 1:00.86.