Swimming: Gibson pushed out by Mew's victory
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Your support makes all the difference.The tally of big-name casualties became two at the close of the day's racing at the National Short Course Championships here last night, with another Commonwealth gold medallist failing to meet the selection criteria for the European Championships in Riesa in December.
The 200 metres backstroke champion James Goddard missed out on Friday – yesterday it James Gibson, the 50m breaststroke winner in Manchester, who failed to make the grade. Darren Mew gained a scrappy victory in the 100m event, where he produced 1.00.26 seconds to oust Gibson and the Commonwealth 100m champion, Adam Whitehead.
"Technically the race was terrible from start to finish," Mew said. "All the turns were shocking, but it's all about getting on the team in the end."
Whitehead, who just scraped on to the European team, was second in 1.00.80sec, with Gibson, the Commonwealth record holder, left in fourth place. "Winning gold in Manchester was what this season was all about," Gibson said. "Qualifying was always going to be tough."
There were no surprises in the women's 800m freestyle, where Rebecca Cooke, the double gold medallist last month, qualified with a 13-second cushion. With her sights set on winning the world title in Barcelona next year, Cooke was pondering whether to compete in Riesa.
Cooke, who finished in 8.27.66sec, some six seconds adrift of her British record, said: "The World Championships is the main thing."
The fortunes of the ubiquitous Stephen Parry continued to prosper, as he claimed his fourth title of the meet after wins in the 400m individual medley and 50m backstroke. He contests his specialist event, the 200m butterfly, later today.
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