Dale edges fantastic battle to claim 400m Individual Medley gold

Kieran Dale came out on top in a fantastic battle for gold in the Men’s 16 Years Individual Medley at the Swim England National Summer Meet.

Dale, Thanet Swim, was only 0.29 seconds ahead of Dulwich Dolphins’ Willem Koster as he won the gold medal at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Pool.

But the lead changed hands several times during the course of the race with Koster opening up an almost three-second gap after 200m.

Dale fought back though to touch home first in 4:40.66, with Koster second in 4:40.95. Beckenham’s Timothy Leberl was the bronze medallist in 4:46.26.

In the 13-14 Years race, Ellis Cleworth overcame a four-and-a-half second defect at the halfway stage to win the gold medal.

The City of Liverpool swimmer was trailing Rushmoor’s Charles Hazell but a tremendous second 200m saw him touch home in 4:50.54 to win by 2.48 seconds.

Hazell clocked 4:53.02, with Bolton Metro’s Jake Reynolds third in 4:53.69.

Nova Centurion’s Joshua Skinner topped the podium in the 15 Years event.

He recorded a time of 4:47.27 to take the gold, with North Lincs Swim Squad’s Kieran Summers second in 4:47.96.

Hackney’s Kai Ogden was third after finishing in 4:50.34.

There was only a gap of 0.06 seconds between the top two in the 17 Years event.

Adam Law, Borough of Kirklees, was first in 4:37.04 but he was pushed all the way by Northampton’s Jack Buswell who had to settle for the silver medal in 4:37.10.

Liam Birrell, City of Leeds, was third in 4:38.60.

A commemorative gold medal was presented to Jacob M Joergensen, Kvik Kastrup, who clocked 4:25.51 in the 18 Years and over race

The Swim England National Summer Meet gold medal was won by  City of Peterborough’s Harry Whiteman in a time of 4:36.88.

City of Sunderland’s Jay Manners took the silver in 4:39.77, with Wigan BEST’s James Cross claiming bronze in 4:40.16

Women’s 400m Individual Medley

Royal Wolverhampton School’s Chloe Harris led from start to finish as she won the 12-13 Years race.

She touched home in 5:10.23 with Leah Schlosshan her closest rival in second on 5:12.41.

The bronze medal was won by Stockport Metro’s Caitlin Lansom in 5:12.71.

Amy Brown also cruised to victory in the 14 Years event.

The Bournemouth swimmer had a comfortable lead after 300m and won by 2.85 seconds with a time of 5:07.26.

Second place went to Wrekin College’s Harriet Smith in 5:10.11, with City of Birmingham’s Ellie Sibbald-Perkins third in 5:10.21.

In the 15 Years event, West Norfolk’s Lucie Peck won the gold medal by more than two seconds after she recorded a time of 5:06.58.

Wigan BEST’s Jennifer Green was second in 5:08.74, with Portsmouth’s Kate Baxter taking bronze in 5:10.93.

KingstonHull’s Abbie Bowden clawed back a three-second deficit after 200m to win the 16 Years race.

She trailed Portsmouth’s Abigail Lacey at the halfway stage but eventually won the gold medal by 2.03 seconds in a time of 5:03.19.

Lacey took the silver in 5:05.22, with Royal Wolverhampton School’s Keeley Murcott third in 5:08.40.

In the 18 Years race, City of Leicester’s Daisy Platts was victorious in 5:00.12 – almost four seconds ahead of second placed Molly Francis.

The Mount Kelly swimmer claimed the silver medal in 5:04.08, with bronze going to Stockport Metro’s Isobel Spinley in 5:04.85.