Peaty helps Roar to make ISL final berth
LOUGHBOROUGH swimmers went head to head in London at the weekend as they took part in the International Swimming League’s European derby at the London Aquatics Centre.
London Roar and Energy Standard both had a trio of Loughborough swimmers on their roster with Adam Peaty, Siobhan-Marie O’Connor and Sarah Vasey starring for London and Max Litchfield, Georgia Davies and Imogen Clark swimming for Energy Standard.
On the opening day of the event Imogen Clarke helped the away team off to a good start in claiming her best finish so far in the series with a second in the Women’s 50m Breaststroke ahead of Sarah Vasey (sixth) and SiobhanMarie O’Connor (eighth).
Adam Peaty had to settle for fourth place in the men’s 50m breaststroke for London while Max Litchfield then claiming fourth for Energy in the Men’s 400m Individual Medley, as the noise in the London Aquatics Centre appeared to raise another level.
Further excitement ensued in the all important relays, with Brits representing London Roar taking advantage of the double points scoring for clubs under the ISL format. Scott lined up alongside Adam Peaty for a second place finish in the Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay, whilst Siobhan-Marie O’Conner led off a London Roar team to third in the Women’s 4 x 100m Freestyle.
It was however Energy Standard who had stolen a march by the end of the closing night with Georgia Davies’ Women’s 50m Backstroke top three finish further bolstering their tally to 238 points through day one.
Peaty helped close the points gap on the leaders to 14 for London Roar with second place in the Men’s 200m Breaststroke, casting off any disappointment from his earlier 50m event by producing a short course personal best over the distance, leaving it poised for a showdown for top spot on Sunday night.
On Sunday, London Roar team co-captain Adam Peaty was an early contributor to his club’s assault on the lead, mustering up the first win by a British athlete of the weekend at the London Aquatic Centre, touching the wall first in the men’s 100m Breaststroke.
Peaty said: “I’m pretty tired I knew that. I knew my strengths and weaknesses but I went out there today to enjoy it, enjoy the crowd and come back with a win.”
Sarah Vasey later contributed to the Women’s 4 x 100m Medley relay third place finish as London Roar moved top at the first break but ultimately Energy Standard took the victory ahead of London Roar with both clubs qualifying for next month’s final in Las Vegas.