• British Swimming Championships

Halsall powers to sprint gold

ESPN staff
March 10, 2012
Fran Halsall was much too good for her rivals © PA Photos
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Fran Halsall underlined her status as the nation's premier swimmer over the short distances by powering to gold in the 50m at the British Swimming Championships.

She touched home in 24.13, with Amy Smith chasing her home in a personal-best time of 24.80 which was good enough to join Halsall on the Olympics team.

"I'm a little bit shocked," Halsall said. "Coming in to it I wanted to go 24.5 - that was my target. I wanted to get a good start and just keep my head down to the wall. So to get that close to my British record, I can't believe it. I'm gobsmacked!"

Speed was swapped for stamina in the 1500m freestyle and the gold went to Dan Fogg who dipped under 15 minutes for the first time in his career.

His time of 14:55.30 was good enough for victory and an Olympics place. He was joined on the GB team by David Davies who claimed second in 15:00.73.

"I think there has only been two guys thatg have swum under 15 minutes before so to be in the same calibre as Graeme Smith and Dave Davies means so much to me," Fogg said. "Dave is a great athlete and I knew he would be in with a great shout of making that time as well but I just had to concentrate on my own swim tonight.

"I swam on the first day but then the last six days have just been training and waiting around getting more and more nervous for this. It was just a matter of getting in and concentrating on my own race and doing what I wanted to do."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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