Daniel Wiffen Dominates 1500 Free At BUCS Championships To Go Top Of The Rankings
Daniel Wiffen enjoyed a 28-second victory in the 1500 free and Freya Colbert was a double winner on day one of the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Championships (25m) in Sheffield.
Wiffen clocked 14:31.81 in the longest race in the pool. While that was far outside his Irish record of 14:09.11 posted en-route to gold at last year’s European Short-Course Championships which was number three all-time, Friday’s performance was the third best of Wiffen’s career.
It was also the fastest in the world this year, 4.51secs ahead of Japan’s Kazushi Imafuku who clocked 14:36.82 at the World Cup stop in Singapore.
Daniel Wiffen: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala, Deepbluemedia
The Olympic bronze medallist was followed home by Tyler Melbourne-Smith in 14:59.87 as the Loughborough swimmer completed a busy afternoon. He had earlier come from third at 150 – 0.52 behind leader and Loughborough teammate Charlie Hutchison – to pick his way through and take the 200 free in 1:44.29.
Hutchison was second in 1:44.40 with Cam Brooker of Bath University third in 1:45.05.
Colbert got proceedings underway in the 200 free with the world 400IM champion 3.49secs clear in 1:54.23.
She returned for the 200IM where she led throughout to win in 2:08.36, more than three seconds ahead of Loughborough teammate Lilly Booker (2:11.46).
Archie Goodburn was today named on the Aquatics GB team for short-course worlds in Budapest which take place a little over six months after he revealed he had been diagnosed with brin tumours.
The Edinburgh University athlete was in a tight tussle with Greg Butler in the men’s 50m breaststroke with the Loughborough University man taking the title in 27.02 to 27.10.
Angharad Evans – also Budapest-bound – dipped inside 30 seconds to win the women’s sprint in 29.96.
Angharad Evans: Photo Courtesy: Morgan Harlow, Aquatics GB
Max Litchfield, another on the team headed to the Hungarian capital in December, won the men’s 200IM in 1:55.62 where he was followed home by 1:57.49.
Katie Shanahan, representing the University of Stirling, won the women’s 100 back in Oli Morgan lifting the men’s crown in 50.97, the Birmingham University athlete set for Budapest next month.
The women’s 100 fly turned out to be a battle in the second half of the race between University of Stirling teammates Keanna Macinnes and Lucy Grieve.
Macinnes enjoyed a healthy advantage at halfway but Grieve came back with the former winning in 57.70 to 57.76.
Josh Gammon – set to make his senior international debut at short-course worlds – led through to win the men’s equivalent in 51.46 followed by Ed Mildred, the Manchester Metropolitan swimmer clocking 52.17.