British Gas Swimming Championships, Day Three: Elizabeth Simmonds Defeats World Champion; Liam Tancock Diversifies Program With Swift 100 Free

SHEFFIELD, England, March 31. Elizabeth Simmonds and Liam Tancock were the stars on the third day of swimming at the British Gas Swimming Championships.

Simmonds won the women's 100 back in 59.43, cementing her status as the second-fastest in the event behind Emily Seebohm's 59.21 posted in March. World champion Gemma Spofforth placed second in 59.46, which is now the third-fastest time of the year and puts three women in the sub-1:00 club in 2010. Spofforth's training partner at the University of Florida, Stephanie Proud, finished third in 1:01.30.

In other finals swum Wednesday, Olympian James Goddard won the men's 200 back in 1:57.06, which is the second-fastest swim of the year. Chris Walker-Hebborn was right behind him in 1:57.39. Scott Hathaway was third in 2:00.57.

Fran Halsall, the world championship silver medalist in the 100 free, won her pet event today in 54.71, with teammate Amy Smith joining her in the sub-55 second club with a 54.86. Lucy Ellis was third with a 55.76.

Stacey Tadd used a strong final 50 meters to overtake Hannah Miley in the 200 breast final, winning in 2:29.66. Miley, a world championship finalist in the individual medley, was second in 2:30.27. Placing third was Kate Hutchison in 2:31.09.

The men's 50 butterfly final saw Ian Hume take the title in 24.22. Second went to James Doolan in 24.51. Third place went to Jamie Thorpe with a 24.65.

Kristopher Gilchrist barely survived a charge from Michael Jamieson in the men's 100 breast final. Gilchrist's winning time was 1:01.22, with Jamieson finishing in 1:01.24. Third place went to Richard Webb with a 1:01.37. The times are the sixth, seventh and eighth fastest swims in the world this year.

In semifinal action, Simon Burnett and Ross Davenport were the top two qualifiers for the men's 100 free final with times of 49.46 and 49.97, respectively. Auburn University swimmer Adam Brown, who was fourth in the 100-yard freestyle at last weekend's NCAA championships, qualified for the 100 free final in Sheffield with a 50.36.

Ellen Gandy and Jemma Lowe will be the top two seeds in the women's 100 butterfly final tomorrow. Gandy posted a 58.91 in the semifinals, while Lowe swam a 59.35.

Tancock elected to scratch the semifinals of the 100 freestyle after posting the second-fastest time of the year in the preliminaries. Tancock's time of 48.80 puts him behind Eamon Sullivan's 48.52 from two weeks ago. Rebecca Adlington cruised through the prelims of the 800 freestyle, qualifying first with an 8:33.57. Rising star Jazz Carlin was the second qualifier in 8:41.61.

In multi-disability events, Matthew Walker was first in the men's 50 free with a 28.29, Nyree Lewis was listed first in the women's 100 backstroke with a 1:28.28 and David Ellis was the top swimmer in the men's 100 butterfly with a 1:02.42.

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