MERSEYSIDE swimming star Fran Halsall demonstrated the technique and determination that has brought her world, European and Commonwealth medals when she touched out Amy Smith by just three hundredths of a second to win the 100m freestyle at the British Gas Swimming Championships in Manchester last night.
While Southport’s Halsall claimed the narrowest of victories, James Goddard was in a class of his own as he completely dominated the 200m backstroke event.
Michael Jamieson triumphed in the men’s 200m breaststroke while Stacey Tadd took gold in the women’s equivalent.
Halsall was second in the 100m butterfly earlier this week on the back of less than a month’s full training following ankle surgery in December.
However, her time did not qualify her for the World Championships in Shanghai later this year, for which this week’s event acts as trials.
Last night she was behind her Loughborough and Great Britain teammate Smith until the final couple of metres before she summoned up all her experience to touch home in 55.01, barely a fingernail ahead of her friend and rival.
Victory also saw her claim a spot on the Great Britain team for China although Smith will have to try and qualify again at the ASA National Championships in June.
Halsall said: “It’s fabulous for my confidence.
“Just being able to qualify and have that out of my head I can get down to some real hard work.
“I know by the summer I’ll be ready to go and bang it out, hopefully for a gold in Shanghai.”
Before her operation the 20-year-old had to face up to the possibility she may not even be able to swim at the Manchester Aquatics Centre this week.
Her results this week, therefore, have taken on an added significance.
“To come here and swim and make the team is a really big deal,” she added.
“I haven’t been swimming anywhere near what I’d like to.
“But now this has given me a real boost and I know I can swim a lot quicker when it comes down to it.”
Halsall had predicted the race would be a “ding-dong” battle and she said: “Before we started I had in my head I was going to win.
“You’ve got to think like that to win, haven’t you?
“I didn’t really think about it much. I just got on with it and did my job and had to dig in at the end.
“It’s nice to be in a race and that’s where I feel I thrive most.
“So to have Amy so close really gives me a kick up the bum.
“Luckily I might have longer arms than Amy so I managed to get there – or maybe my green nails helped.”
Double Commonwealth champion Goddard swam alone for his entire race, finishing 4.63 seconds ahead of second-placed Xavier Mohammed in a time of 1:57.08.
The Stockport swimmer was realistic though about what he must do if he is to succeed in Shanghai where he may have to choose between the medley and the backstroke because of the programme.
“I’ve not felt in the best shape this week so I am actually pretty pleased with the results I’ve come out with,” he said.
“I’ve definitely got to go faster than my best time if I want to get a medal in Shanghai.”
Jamieson won the 200m breaststroke in 2:10.42 with Andrew Willis’s time also enough to qualify for China but Tadd was just outside the qualification in the women’s race.
Steph Proud was quickest to the 200m backstroke final, joined by European gold and silver medallists Lizzie Simmonds and Gemma Spofforth, Adam Brown leads the 50m freestyle with Rachael Kelly quickest into the 50m butterfly final.
