2009 NATIONALS: day five report

Day 5 the final day of the Championships has arrived with some exciting swimming from the Vulcans boys.

First of all Ollie B earned himself a place in the 400 IM final this evening. Then the medley relay team swam an outstanding team effort in the final heat of the event with all four boys producing personal best times to snatch a place in tonight's final too.

Oliver Richmond went 1.02.79 in the backstroke leg - almost 2 seconds faster than he swam earlier in the Championships in his individual event. Alex Simmons (the relay youngster of the team aged only 13) produced a lifetime best swim of 1.15.91 in the breaststroke leg - again almost 2 seconds faster than he swam only yesterday. Ollie B, straight from the swimdown pool from the 400 IM heat, swam an impressive pb of 1.01.67 for the 100m butterfly. Jack Wright brought the relay home in a new 100 free pb of 57.35 - chipping away at the 57.56 ans 57.79 achieved only four days ago in the freestyle relay final and heat - making 3 pbs in one week alone in the 100 freestyle - marvellous Jack!!

The resulting time of 4.17.63 was a full 5 seconds faster than the team had achieved only 5 weeks ago at the Midland Age Group Championships in Coventry and was a truly outstanding team effort and achievement of which the boys can be immensely proud.

The final session started with the BAGCAT awards for the top 10 swimmers in each age group with Ollie B collecting the 7th place for the 14 year old boys age group in Great Britain.

In the 400 IM final Ollie B took 7th place with a 2 second improvement over his heat time and in the relay the boys took an admirable 8th place in a very competitive field.

The Championships have been both exciting and rewarding for all the swimmers that qualified - a medal for Ollie B and numerous PBs in a set of exciting performances on the national stage.

Well done to all and congratulations to all those who took part and represented Lincoln Vulcans at this important event.