JO JACKSON’S bid for triple glory at this summer’s World Championships is alive and kicking after another recordbreaking swim at the British Gas Scottish National Championships.
The 22-year-old finished second behind double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington in the 800m freestyle in Glasgow yesterday but her personal best time of 8:17.81 secured her qualification for the Rome showpiece championship in July.
Jackson has already booked her spot on the plane to Italy in the 200m and the 400m – an event in which she holds the world record but her Glasgow heroics mean she can now chase glory on three fronts.
Adlington has already stated that she will only focus on the 800m but after a personal best showing in Scotland, Jackson believes the 800m can be part of a Rome hat-trick.
“I’m pretty shocked to be honest,” said Jackson. “There was no way I was expecting it to be that fast.
“I was just trying to flow as much as possible and see where it would take me but to go 8:17 is completely unexpected.
“You don’t know how well everyone else is going to perform at a big event like the Worlds but Becky and I certainly have a great chance of bringing home the top two medals in this event.
“Tonight it was really close and I’d hope to push her as much as that in Rome as well.
“The 800 is a great event and I echo Becky’s sentiments that if it were removed from the schedule it would be a massive shame for swimming.”
Elsewhere, Wear Valley ace Chris Alderton was left to ponder what might have been after missing the world championship qualification time when coming third in the 400m freestyle final.
Alderton needed to come in second behind David Davies in a time under 3.50.25secs to book his spot on the plane for the showpiece Rome championships but the 21-year-old could only manage 3.51.50secs.
Davies took the victory three seconds clear of Alderton, with Scottish star Robbie Renwick in second.
“I was really struggling a bit after the morning session and I wasn’t expecting to do much in the final,” said Alderton.
“But I thought I could make the most of having the outside lane and just push it as much as I could.
“I knew I was going to have to set a PB to qualify for Rome so it was always a big ask but I have to be pleased with myself for giving that a good crack.”
Billingham’s Kate Williams grabbed third in the 200M backstroke B final.
■ British Gas and British Swimming – the nation’s leading energy supplier, British Gas is the Principal Partner of British Swimming, supporting the sport at all levels: ‘From paddling pool to podium’.
For more information visit www.britishswimming.org
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here