2009 NATIONALS: day one report

Lincoln Vulcans Age Group swimmers were on form today for the first day of the Age Group Championships at Ponds Forge Sheffield.

The day started with Oliver Bitowt (14) earning himself a place in the 400 freestyle final this evening with a solid performance in the heats (4.12.78). This was followed by the two 'Ollie Vulcan backstrokers' in the same heat of the 100 backstroke where both turned in good times with Ollie Bitowt going sub 1.04 for the first time (1.03.66) and Olly Richmond in his debut race at National level within hundrdths of his PB with 1.04.09.

Alison Haworth was next in the water where she brought home a long course PB of 2.35.31 in the girls 200m backstroke.

Then the Vulcan boys went into the 100 free relay heats. Jack Wright was first off the block storming into a new PB of 57.79. Followed by Olly Richmond who christened his new Speedo Body suit with an outstanding 56.99. Younster Harry Maw (the only 13 year old on the team) also delivered his first sub-60 long course swim with a confident 59.53 and to finish Ollie Bitowt also swam to his PB with a 56.58 earning a place in the finals.

In the middle session Vulcan girls Gabrielle Vickers and Alison Haworth both swam well in a very competitive 1500m field. Gabrielle shrugged aside any sign of nerves and swam to her PB time recently achieved in the same pool. Alison Haworth swam confidently to produce a time of 19.19.69 a new long course PB by 3 seconds.

In the 400 freestyle final Ollie Bitowt swam a consistently strong race bringing home a 3 second PB over his entry time and a new lifetime best time of 4.09.92.

In the boys relay final the team picked up a place improving from their entry position of 9th to 8th in an extremely exciting and hard fought final.

Well done to all and we look forward to Day 2.....