Swimming: Worlds await as Smith rushes to 400m title
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Your support makes all the difference.Graeme Smith, the Olympic and world medallist, powered home to win the 400 metres freestyle on the first day of the British Championships in Sheffield.
Smith, the Scottish defending champion based in Stockport, won in 3min 49.71sec to qualify for the World Championships in Barcelona later this year. He said: "It's great to make the World Championship team at the first long-course meet of the season."
Sarah Price, the double Commonwealth Games gold medallist, swimming for Barnet Copthall, lowered her own British and Commonwealth record for the 100m backstroke in the semi-finals. The 23-year-old finished in 1min 0.94sec.
Alison Sheppard, the Commonwealth champion, went through in style to the final of the 50m freestyle. The Scot was fastest in the preliminary rounds with a time of 25.21sec, more than half a second clear of her nearest challenger, Rosalind Brett of Loughborough University.
Sheppard was even more impressive in the semi-finals, posting easily the best time to qualify for tonight's final, where she will be the hot favourite to take gold.
Alan Bircher, of Bath University, won the men's 5,000m freestyle, finishing in 53min 56.05sec. London West's Paula Wood took the women's 5,00m freestyle title with a time of 58min 42.29sec.
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