Second title & an English record for O’Connor
University of Bath-based swimmer Siobhan-Marie O’Connor set a 200m individual medley English record last night (Sunday) to win her second gold medal of the 2014 British Gas Swimming Championships in Glasgow.
The 18-year-old, who trains at British Swimming’s National Centre for Swimming at the University, added the medley title to the 200m freestyle gold and 100m butterfly silver she won earlier in the championships.
O’Connor (right) set a new 200m IM record of 2:09.71, well inside the England Commonwealth Games qualification time.
“I’m very happy with my win. The 200 medley is my favorite event and I’m thrilled to ha
ve set a new English record and got under the consideration time,” she said.
“I felt good during the first 100m but it’s such a strong field that I knew they would come back if I didn’t push myself. I didn’t have a lot left in the last 25m but I dug really deep and am really happy with the time.”
Training partner Sophie Allen took bronze in the 200m individual medley final.
There was also a second gold of the championships last night for fellow Bath swimmer Chris Walker-Hebborn (right), who set a personal best of 25.09 to win the 50m backstroke. He has already won gold in the 100m backstroke, retaining his British title.
Bath swimmers have been in impressive form at the championships, which also form part of the selection process for the England and Scottish teams at the Commonwealth Games an
d conclude tomorrow (Tuesday).
Earlier in the championships Michael Jamieson struck gold in the 200m breaststroke and bronze in the 100m breaststroke, while Andrew Willis took 200m breaststroke bronze.
Calum Jarvis (right) posted a Team Wales selection standard and lowered his 200m freestyle personal best to 1:47.54 to take silver, and there was also a silver for Joe Roebuck in the 200m butterfly.
Lizzie Simmonds won silver in the 200m backstroke and bronze in the 100m backstroke.
The championships are taking place at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow, which will host the swimming at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
