Former Stockport Metro swimmer Keri-Anne Payne admitted she was at a loss to explain her struggles at the 2016 British Swimming Championships after she could only finish third in the 800m freestyle in Glasgow.
While open water swimming is Payne’s main priority, she came to the Tollcross International Swimming Centre full of confidence that she could perform in the pool.
But after starting strongly in the heats of the 200m freestyle on Tuesday, she has struggled to back those performances up, and was particularly disappointed with a time of 8:34.03 in the final of the 800m free, won by Jazz Carlin.
Having targeted a personal best, Payne was nearly five seconds off her goal, but insists she won’t be getting too down at the result.
“I’m devastated, I don’t really know why the time was so slow. I’m not really too sure,” said Payne, who will now turn her attentions to qualifying for the Olympics in open water at the final trials in June.
“I guess 8:34 in the open water world is still up there with the best, but it’s not quite the finals that I’d hoped we’d have.
“I was close to Jazz so I was hoping Jazz had gone a really good time and was close to a PB so I’m really upset. I was really hoping for a PB here, that was the main reason for coming.
“I felt like I was swimming really hard. The first bit was trying to be steady and build into it so I really don’t know.
“This was a bonus for me, a bit of fun. I don’t want this year to be emotional, it’s a fun year, it’s a cool year.
“All I can do now is get the metres in and prep for the open water trials in June.”
Elsewhere there was disappointment for Stockport Metro swimmer Lauren Quigley, who could only finish fourth in the 50m freestyle.
While not her main event, Quigley was hoping for better than the 25.60 she managed in the event, won by Fran Halsall.
She said: “I found that quite tough, I was quite a bit off my personal best so it wasn’t where I should be but I can’t do anything about it now because it’s done.
“I’m not too sure where it went wrong for me, I just need to watch it back, have a chat to my coach and have a look at the race.
“I don’t think about where I’m going to finish when I get into the race, I just think about what I’m going to do and if I get a medal, then I get a medal.”
In the same final Rebecca Guy finished fourth, while Holly Hibbott came home fourth in the Tokyo Target final of the 200m butterfly.
Tickets for the European Aquatics Championships – the biggest event to be held at the London Aquatics Centre since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games – from May 9-22 are now available here: www.euroaquatics2016.london
Image courtesy of Great Swim TV, via YouTube, with thanks
