Halsall strikes gold with record

Jun 9 2008 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

FRAN HALSALL and the women’s 4x200metres freestyle relay squad picked up gold medals in British record time on the second day of action at the Seven Hills meet in Rome.

The two golds were among 11 medals won yesterday by British swimmers to add to the 11 claimed on Friday, including four titles.

Liverpool’s Halsall took gold in the women’s 100m freestyle in 54.27seconds, a new British record, with team-mate and former record holder Caitlin McClatchey taking bronze in 55.42secs.

Team-mate Mel Marshall was fifth.

The relay squad of Hannah Miley, Jo Jackson, Becky Adlington and McClatchey won in a new national mark of seven minutes 55.83 seconds, ahead of Italy and Sweden.

Miley took silver in the women’s 400m individual medley in 4mins 37.60secs, with Keri-anne Payne fourth.

Tom Haffield was second in the men’s equivalent, touching in 4:18.29, with Euan Dale in third in 4:18.30 to give Britain its second double placing on the podium of the day.

Becky Adlington clinched silver in the 800m freestyle with a time of 8:27.60, with team-mate Cassandra Patten fifth.

Chris Cook claimed silver in the 50m breaststroke in 28.32, Michael Rock picked up bronze in the 200m butterfly in 1:58.09 while Lizzie Simmonds also took a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke in 1:01.24.

World 50m backstroke record holder Liam Tancock took bronze over the longer distance of 100m, touching home in 54.37.