Daniel Wiffen, Angharad Evans & Ollie Morgan Complete Trebles As BUCS Championships Wrap Up
Daniel Wiffen, Angharad Evans and Ollie Morgan all wrapped up trebles as the BUCS Championships came to an end after three days in Sheffield.
Wiffen added the 400 free on the final day to the 800 and 1500 titles. The Irishman only ever led on the final 50 with James Guy – the 2015 world silver medallist – setting the pace throughout.
Guy led by 2.26 at 300m and although Wiffen ate into the deficit down the penultimate 50, the three-time Olympic champion still enjoyed a lead of 1.3secs at the final turn.
Double Olympic medallist Wiffen, however, fired off a 28.16 final 50 to Guy’s 30.15 to go past the Briton and take the title in 3:49.35. Guy was second in 3:50.04 with Tyler Melbourne-Smith next home in 3:51.45.
The BUCS Championships have been a welcome return to competition for the Loughborough swimmer who won the 1500 on the opening night in 15:03.20 which he followed with a 7:52.52 win over 800.
Evans & Morgan On Scorching Form
Angharad Evans: Photo Courtesy: Angharad Evans
Evans has had a fine three days at Ponds Forge, opening her account with victory in the 50 breaststroke in 30.98 before splitting 1:05.49 – then the second-swiftest in British history – in the mixed medley relay. On Saturday, the Stirling swimmer took the 100 in 1:06.02, the fifth-fastest all-time in domestic waters.
The 21-year-old followed that up with a PB of 2:22.64 in a dominant victory over 200m. Lily Booker of Loughborough (2:29.19) and Edinburgh Napier’s Anna Morgan (2:29.23) were second and third respectively.
It was a PB of almost three seconds as she moved up to fifth all-time British performer.
She returned to the pool for the final time in the women’s medley relay where she split 1:05.14 as Stirling won the title in 3:58.66. That was the fastest split in British history, surpassing her 1:05.40 at the Paris Olympics.
Morgan won the 50 back in 24.77, the second-fastest time of his career as he reinforces his place as number two performer in the all-time domestic rankings headed by Liam Tancock and his former WR of 24.04 from the 2009 worlds. Bath pair Cameron Brooker and Jack Skerry shared second in 25.53.
With victory over one length, the University of Birmingham swimmer completed the backstroke treble which saw him come within 0.01 of his British 100 record as he clocked 52.71 on the opening night. The Paris Olympian followed that up with the 200 title on Saturday in 1:57.38.
Cohoon Wins Sprint Freestyle Double; Cox Dominates
Alex Cohoon secured the sprint freestyle double with victory in the 50 in 22.52 ahead of Jordan Cooley of Leeds Beckett (22.71) and Calvin Fry who made it a Loughborough 1-3 in 22.79.
Kornelia Fiedkiewicz won the women’s 50 free in 25.43 ahead of of Stirling’s Evie Davis (25.60) with Harriet Rogers making it a Loughborough 1-3 in 25.95.
Lauren Cox: Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Lauren Cox enjoyed a dominant victory in the women’s 50 back in 27.60 to secure the 50/100 double. The 2023 world bronze medallist finished 1.42secs ahead of Niamh Ward (29.02) with Sophie de Groot a further 0.14 adrift in 29.16.
Keanna Macinnes came from 0.73 down at the final turn to overhaul Laura Stephens in the 200 fly. The Stirling swimmer took the touch in 2:09.78 with world champion Stephens second in 2:10.09 and Ciara Schlosshan third in 2:11.00.
Josh Gammon won the men’s 200 fly, the Bath swimmer ahead throughout to win in 2:00.81 with Hendrik van der Leest (2:01.07) and Max Litchfield (2:01.15) following him home.
Greg Butler secured the 100/200br double with a 2:12.44 win over four lengths to cap a successful weekend which also brought silver in the 50. George Smith of Stirling (2:13.39) and Butler’s Loughborough teammate Alex Casey (2:14.28) rounded out the podium.
Lucy Fox led home Fleur Lewis for a Loughborough 1-2 in the 400 free, clocking 4:16.78 to 4:17.59. Michaella Glenister of Stirling was third in 4:20.51.
The men’s medley relay wrapped up the BUCS meet with Bath taking the title in 3:39.01.