Proud moves one step closer to Commonwealth place

By Sportsbeat staff

STEPHANIE Proud moved one step closer to the Commonwealth Games with a 200m backstroke victory at the British Gas ASA National Championships in Sunderland.

ATTENTION GRABBING: Steph Proud should have booked her place in Delhi with an impressive swim in Sunderland

The Chester Le Street swimmer turned after the first 100m with over a second lead and finished strongly to set a new season's best clocking 2:09.04, nearly three seconds within the required selection time.

The time would have won her bronze at last week's European Championships in Budapest - behind national team-mates Lizzie Simmonds and Gemma Spofforth, underling the strength in depth in British backstroking

"I'm very pleased with that performance," said Proud. "I wanted to go under 2.10.00 but I didn't think that it would be that quick.

"Backstroke is so strong in Britain but I'm confident that will put me into the Commonwealth Games for England."

Daniel Sliwinski proved too fast for the rest of the field in the 50m breaststroke final to add to the gold medal he won in the 100m Breaststroke on Monday.

The 20-year-old, who has only been back in the water for four weeks after breaking his wrist in May, touched in a new personal best time of 27.97 secs.

"My aim here was to try to go under 28 seconds and considering my injury in May I'm delighted with that," he said.

"The 50m is my fun event and I'll turn my attention to tomorrow's 200m now where I could make it three gold from the three breaststroke events.

"I didn't have the best start, but recovered well and finished strongly. The time was a good personal best and more importantly it shows I'm back in shape after my injury and it gives me confidence for Delhi."