British Long Course Championships: Flash! Joanne Jackson Sets World Record in 400 Free - Video Included -- March 17, 2009
Updated with video on March 17
SHEFFIELD, England, March 16. IN what proved to be a barn-burner between Joanne Jackson and Rebecca Adlington, Jackson came out on top in a world-record effort in the women's 400 free at the British Long Course Championships.
Jackson rocketed to a time of 4:00.66, while Adlington placed second in 4:00.89. Both swims cleared the world record of 4:01.53 set by Italy's Federica Pellegrini last March.
In other action, David Davies set a British record in the men's 400 free with a time of 3:45.24. The performance not only gave him the title, but cleared the previous record of 3:47.17 set by David Carry at the Beijing Olympics.
In semifinal rounds, Ellen Gandy (58.66) and Francesca Halsall (58.97) earned the top two seeds in the women's 100 fly. Meanwhile, Liam Tancock (54.36), Marco Loughran (54.83) and Chris Walker-Hebborn (54.89) are favored for the men's 100 back.
In the women's 200 IM, national-record holder Hannah Miley posted a 2:12.21 to lead qualifying, while Michael Rock topped the men's 200 fly semis in 1:56.68.
With national-record holder Gemma Spofforth in the States representing Florida at NCAAs, Elizabeth Simmonds (1:01.06) and Georgia Davies (1:01.16) look to be favored in finals for the women's 100 back title.
Meanwhile, another favorite fell victim to a disqualification as Simon Burnett missed out during finals of the men's 50 free. Adam Brown (22.39) made the most of the opening to get lane four in finals.
Additionally, Halsall nearly clipped the national record in the women's 50 free with a top semifinal time of 24.75. Alison Shepard's 24.68 set back in 2002 definitely looks prime for the taking during finals.
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March 16, 2009 Do you hear the sound of the clock ticking? That is the four minute barrier getting ready to be FINALLY broken by the women! Joanne and Rebecca are fantastic! Submitted by: paddles
March 16, 2009 And once again, the women's 400 free world record is negative split (2:00.35 2:00.31). Not as dramatically as Evans' did it, but still noteworthy.
Interesting that Adlington also negative split... 2:00.50 2:00.39. Submitted by: Sphere
March 16, 2009 Looks like Adlington's celebrity hasn't interfered TOO much withher training. I wonder what kind of suits they were wearing, or if they were wearing more than one apiece. I wouldn't blame them if they were, given that Pellegrini is notorious for that. Or did the new FINA rules go into effect already? Submitted by: halfbreed
March 16, 2009 There are things that said they were wearing the lzr. Submitted by: stc27
March 16, 2009 KATIE HOFF! Go take down those Brits, Katie! I really hope she can get up there. Pellegrini, even with only one suit, will be tough at worlds as well, especially in her home country.
I did not see this coming at all. I knew they would be good with the times Jackson has thrown down this year (4:03, 8:23). I have a feeling they will both be under or at least close to the 800 Free world record and not too far off the 200 Free. I think the Brits will win the 4x200 in Rome; USA second; China, Australia, and France battling for bronze.
Speaking of the 200 Free, co-Aussie record holders Stephanie Rice and Bronte Barratt face off on Tuesday in the first event of Aussie nationals. I predicted Rice to pull off the narrow victory, both under Aussie record time, but it will be a good race. Submitted by: SwimDER94
March 16, 2009 i dont think the article said anything, but I assume that was finals? anybody know for sure? Submitted by: lightbulb12
March 16, 2009 It was finals. I found the article below from the BBC. It has the video of the final 100 and interviews with Jackson, Adlington, and Davies. Jackson talks about her new coach and training group (Davies, Caitlin McClatchey (who pulled out of the 400 finals)) and how she's NOT swimming the 800 at this meet - she will swim it at the second trials in June. GB has a double trials system where only the winner qualifies here - the others battle later (Scottish nationals maybe).
March 16, 2009 World record at the Aussie Champs in the 50 fly by Therese Alshammar. 0.02 seconds under her old record. Submitted by: dcswimguy
March 16, 2009 Also a best time by Meagan Nay to lead the 200 Free prelims - 1:58.53. All the contenders in (Rice, Barratt, etc.).
I remember last year when the commenatators were commenting on Steph Rice's start - 0.9! She's got it down now - 0.7 in the 200 Free and 0.66 in the 200 IM. That's gone from especially slow to especially fast! Submitted by: SwimDER94
March 16, 2009 the video of the last 100 meters shows that both swimmers are wearing only ONE suit rather than two or three. Submitted by: paddles
March 17, 2009 dcswimguy; the 50 bly record's no good, Alshammar was DQ'd for wearing two suits. Submitted by: liquidassets
March 17, 2009 Manaudou, come back!
I think someone will break 4 really soon. Submitted by: XXXXXXXJOSH
March 17, 2009 If you watch the last 50 on the BBC video, Adlington does her usual train-like comeback a la Beijing - but Jo Jackson has an amazing last few windmill strokes. Submitted by: GBR_Tom
March 17, 2009 It was phenomenal! :o) Submitted by: paddles
March 17, 2009 GO MARCO! Submitted by: jeah
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