Amelie Blocksidge Warms Up For Budapest With 800 Free Victory in Rotterdam
Amelie Blocksidge won the 800 free title as she made her second trip to the podium on the penultimate day of the Rotterdam Qualification Meet.
The 15-year-old – who makes her senior Great Britain debut at the short-course worlds in Budapest – took over the lead at the 200m mark and pulled away from Imani de Jong to lead by 1.43secs at halfway.
Blocksidge came home in 8:46.95 for her second medal of the meet following silver in the 1500 with De Jong second in 8:49.99 and Sarah Dumont third in 8:52.06.
Gabriel Shepherd came from fourth at the turn to move past the field and add the men’s 100 free title to the 200 he won on the opening night in Rotterdam.
The City of Leeds swimmer stopped the clock in 49.29 with Jacob Mills making it a Great Britain 1-2 in 49.61 with Luca Hoek Le Guenedal of Spain third in 49.92.
Milou van Wijk pulled away on the second 50 to claim the women’s race in 54.51 ahead of Freya Anderson (54.92) with Theodora Taylor making it two GB athletes on the podium in 55.83.
Cameron Brooker lead a British clean sweep of the 100 back podium in 55.02 followed by Jack Skerry (55.17) and Sam Greenbank (55.36).
Sara Costa De Vicente won the women’s event in 1:01.69 ahead of Blythe Kinsman (1:02.73) and Jinth Engelse (1:02.95).
Edward Marcal-Whittles led a British sweep of the 200IM in 2:02.98, leading throughout with Toby Godsell second in 2:03.95 and Filip Nowacki (2:04.04).
Estella Llum Tonrath Nollgen added the 200IM to the 200 back after coming back leader Candice Hall on the final 50 in 2:15.75. Phoebe Cooper also went past her fellow Briton to take second in 2:15.87 with Hall third home in 2:16.17.
Tiago Fonseca Gomes of the Netherlands won the men’s 800 by 6secs in 8:07.42 and was followed home by Luke Hornsey (8:13.45) and Moritz Erkmann (8:18.30).
In the para events in Rotterdam, Rogier Dorsman continued his bull run with another win, this time in the 100 free S11 in 1:00.72. Julian Hendriks set a Netherlands para record of 1:07.82 in the men’s 100 free S7 in prelims before lowering it to 1:07.73 in the evening session.
Dorsman returned to take the 200IM SM11 in 2:26.85.
Liesette Bruinsma won the women’s 100 free S11 in 1:05.94 while Suzie Pellis clocked 2:52.39 in the 200IM SM9.