ABERDEEN, Scotland, May 30. THE North District Open/Scottish Grand Prix kicked off today in Aberdeen with Olympic silver medalist Keri-Anne Payne opening up with a gold medal. Meanwhile, Coast’s Jack Ness powered his way to a Scottish record in the morning.
Warrender’s Payne raced her way to victory in the women’s 800-meter freestyle finale with an 8:42.18 in the event. Danielle Huskisson finished second in 8:43.81 as she never could quite make up the distance against Payne. Meanwhile, Loughboro’s Aisha Thornton checked in with a third-place time of 8:48.67.
Perth City’s Stephen Milne crushed his competition in the men’s 1500-meter free with a winning 15:26.95. Ireland’s Andrew Meegan touched a distant second in 15:54.37 with Stirling’s Martin Cremin finishing third overall in 15:58.81.
Coast’s Jack Ness took down the first Scottish record of the meet with a swift time of 25.54 in the men’s 50-meter backstroke prelims. The swim undercut the 25.89 set by teammate Andrew McGovern in April, that had broken a 13-year-old record of 25.92 set by Craig McNalley of Warrender back in 2001.
Ness couldn’t replicate that same type of speed during the finale as he took second behind Charlie Boldison’s 25.91. Ness checked in with a 26.14 as McGovern wound up third in the finale with a time of 26.46.
Ness talks about breaking the national record as well as posting a Team Scotland nomination time for the Commonwealth Games.
Although FIRST’s Charlotte McKenzie had the top swim of the day in the women’s 50-meter backstroke with a 29.74 during prelims, she was unable to handle BEST’s Lucy Hope in the finale, falling to second, 29.78 to 29.83 in the sprint backstroke championship. SAST’s Karen Reid clinched third overall in 29.88 as the only other sub-30 swimmer of the day.
Jamie Graham of Glasgow continued the trend of a faster prelim than a finale with a 24.68 in the men’s 50-meter fly qualifying rounds. He then took a backseat to Warrender’s Sean Campsie, 24.84 to 24.94, in the championship heat. Carnegie’s Craig Bowman captured third overall in the sprint fly with a 25.04.
East Lothian’s Raquel Matos threw down a 27.44 in the women’s 50-meter fly prelims before bettering that effort during the finale with a 27.33 for the victory. Sian Harkin raced her way to second this evening in 27.68 with Rachael Masson claiming third in 28.09 for Aberdeen.
