Four Camden Swiss swimmers qualify for Olympic Trials
Alex Mackay, Harry Needs, Ed Walsh and Felix Samuels
represented Middlesex County at a prestigious international long course meet in Geneva.
In the team competition Middlesex were 3rd behind national federations from Canada and Belgium.
ALEX MACKAY
Alex Mackay was in outstanding form and won a bronze medal for the boys 15/16 400m individual medley in a best time of 4.45.70, a qualifying time for the Olympic Trials in March, the ASA Nationals in July and the National Youth Championships which take place in late July and early August.
Alex was 4th in 400m freestyle in 4.13.12, qualifying again for all 3 of the National events above. He was 8th in the 200m free final, setting a fantastic best of 2.00.87 in the heat which takes him to the Olympic Trials and the Youth Nationals. Both these events make allowances for Alex being 16 this year, wheras the ASA Nationals qualification is for an open age group and the time he needs for this is 2.00.04. He also swam best long course times in 100m butterfly, 50m and 100m free
HARRY NEEDS
Harry Needs did extremely well to make 4 finals in Geneva. His best result came in the 15/16 100m butterfly fly in which he finished 5th in 1.00.31 and he has qualified for the Olympic trials and the National Youth Championships for this event. He was 6th in 100m back, 7th in 200m IM and 8th in 200m breaststroke. Harry set new bests in 50m fly (27.35) and 50m breaststroke (33.20).
EDWARD WALSH
Edward Walsh achieved qualifying times for the Olympic Trials, National Youth Championships and ASA Nationals in 50m free with 24.67. He finished 15th overall (all 50m events were open age). He was 11th in the 17/18 100m free in 54.07, which is a National Youth and ASA Nationals time. Edward was also 11th in 100m breaststroke and set a long course best in 50m fly (27.11).
FELIX SAMUELS
Felix Samuels, at 14, had a tough draw in the 15/16 age group (for those who will be 15 or 16 during 2008) and therefore did not make finals in Geneva, but he swam brilliantly in the open 50m free to set a new best time of 25.92, which qualifies him for the Olympic Trials and the National Youth Championships. Felix also achieved best times in 100m back (1.09.32), 200m free (2.06.03) and 200m IM (2.28.24).
Dave Hobbs, our chief coach, travelled to Switzerland with the Middlesex Team as County Coach and Vicky Spencer was the Team Manager.
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