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Medal haul for swimmers at Short Course Champs

Winning Students swimmers were in fine form at this year’s Scottish Short Course Swimming Championships as they won 42 medals.

Competing at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinbugrh, the athletes claimed 11 individual gold, 14 silver and 8 bronze medals, as well as podium places in 9 relay events, at the last national meet of the year.

It was a weekend to remember for Kara Hanlon (University of Edinburgh) as she won a hat-trick of titles in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke. Commenting after her 200m victory, Hanlon said: “It was a PB which I’m happy with. I’ve been trying to go under 2:25 for a long time so it’s nice it has finally come.”

Craig McNally (University of the West of Scotland) had an equally impressive event, winning gold in the 100m and 200m backstroke, smashing his personal best and taking over a second off the existing Scottish record in the 200m. He said: “I knew there was a quick swim in me. I never do well in training or in season but I had quite a good swim at BUCS and training has been going well so I knew a fast swim was coming.  I was trying to get as close as I could to the 1:50 or 1:49 mark but it’s over a second PB and I really can’t complain.”

Hanlon’s Edinburgh team-mate, Lucy Hope, was also a multiple medal winner, with gold in the 50m freestyle and a silver and bronze in the 100m and 200m events. Commenting on her gold-winning performance, Hope said: “I’m quite happy with that. You obviously always want to go faster in the race but I think I executed it really well, and for where I am just now in training, I’m really happy with that.”

Across the weekend, there were also individual golds for Kathryn Greenslade (University of Edinburgh – 200m backstroke), Martyn Walton (University of Stirling – 50m backstroke) and Craig McLean (University of Stirling – 100m freestyle).