READING Swimming Club enjoyed their best performance for many years at the National Championships with a five-medal haul, including one gold, one silver, and three bronzes, writes Phil Brennan.
The event was held over two weeks, as nine Reading swimmers qualified for the British Summer Championships, competing in the Swim England National Summer Meet in Sheffield and the Swim Wales National Summer Meet in Swansea.
Joseph Buxton (14), having set a PB of 2:33.74 in the heats of the boys’ 14 years 200m breaststroke to qualify for the final in Swansea, spectacularly went on to win gold by improving his record time through every race distance segment.
He split 33.47 at 50m, 1:11.65 at 100m and a final time of 2:31.28, firmly securing his qualification for the National Winter Championships in Sheffield this December.
(L-R): Reading Swimming Club's James Hart, coach Lee Mallinson and Silas Mendez.
James Hart (13) started week two of his national campaign by winning bronze in the 13/14 years 50m backstroke with a new lifetime best of 29.64secs. Silas Mendez (14) also featured in week two in Sheffield, claiming bronze in the final of the boys’ 13/14 years 100m freestyle by setting his own record time of 56.19.
In Swansea, Jack Endersby (16) began his week in style by winning bronze in the final of the boys’ 17 years 200m backstroke setting a personal best of 2:14.06.
He then clinched silver in the final of the 400m IM with another lifetime best time of 4:55.34.
Reading Swimming Club's Jack Endersby.
Meanwhile Rebecca McMenemy (12) was in fantastic form, achieving fifth in the final of the girls’ 13 years 100m breaststroke with a lifetime best of 1:19.56.
Laura Richmond (15) competed in the girls’ 15 years 100m backstroke, improving her national ranking by two places to 16th and recording a time of 1:07.32.
In Sheffield she made her first national final debut in the girls’ 15 years 50m backstroke setting a lifetime best time of 31.36 to finish seventh. George Endersby (14) made his national debut in Sheffield and started the competition rolling in week two by competing in the boys 13/14 years 100m breaststroke, setting a new lifetime best time of 1:13.84 and making second reserve for the final.
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