Lauren enjoys an ice cool finish
Published 5 Jan 2012 08:30
A TRIP to a snow-capped and icy Inverness saw Cardross swimmer Lauren Averell finish the year on a high.
Due to pool availability and a busy Olympic calendar, the 2012 Scottish Short Course nationals, were held slightly early in mid-December at Aquadrome, Inverness.
Lauren certainly started as she intended to go on. Thursday evening, saw a close but determined finish, in the women's 50m fly, as she picked up Scottish Open and Junior 50m Butterfly champion titles to add to the long course titles she collected in June. Although finishing in 28.07, she was slightly disappointed not to have nipped under the 28-second mark. The rest of the weekend followed in similar style. Friday evening saw Lauren step up for the 100m freestyle women's A final, having her first personal best in this event a few weeks ago, she hoped her form would continue.
A small personal best in the heats gave her confidence and she secured another best time again to take a second off the time that had haunted her for almost a year, breaking 58 seconds with 57.95, finishing fifth overall.
The elation continued, as the Hermitage Academy pupil helped her 4x100m relay team to win a fantastic gold medal.
Saturday showed slight signs of tiredness creeping in.
Making the women's 100m fly A final, finished fifth 1.03.33 just off her previous week's PB and also a great 200m freestyle, making the A final in 2.07.47.
Again, superb swimming by the relay team, saw the girls finishing a fantastic bronze medal place in 4x50 freestyle.
Although, Lauren saved the best until last. Qualifying fastest for the B final in the 200 individual medley, with a personal best time of 2.23.50. Feeling strong, Lauren left her fellow competitors behind after the first 50m, she went on to finish in 2.19.57, a time that took her to fifth overall.
The momentum carried her through. In the women's 50m freestyle final, Lauren was the only swimmer to go under 27 seconds, finishing first in 26.85 and taking Scottish Open and Junior 50m freestlye champion.
Not content with five gold medals, the team evened things up and in the 4x50m medley relay, the girls swam a storming relay to take another gold medal. Breaking her own West District and club open and age group 50 butterfly records and setting a new West District age group 50m free style record.
She had already set a new West District and club record in 100 butterfly a few weeks earlier in 1.03.15.
Hoping to build on the success of the national championships, there is no rest as Lauren will spend New Year in Spain on a training camp before returning in preparation for the West District Grand Prix in mid-January. Lauren would like to thank those at Helensburgh Swimming Club for their kind words and continued support.
This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 05 Jan 12
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
