This week we caught up with the Swim Team after their great performance at the BUCS Team Champs
This week we caught up with the swim team after an excellent set of results at the BUCS Team Champs, South Qualifiers (Division 2). Captains Seth and Alice talk about the swim team this year, the event and where swimming is headed for Cardiff Met.
What is different or new about Swimming at Cardiff Met this year?
"Last year we had about 20 team members, quite a small team in swimming standards, but after the freshers faire we had over 50 members! We also gained an the Olympic Swimmer in Ieuan Lloyd, who will be competing in the Commonwealth Games.
What were the BUCS Team Champs South Qualifiers?
"The Team Champs are an event held every year where individuals compete for a team total, it was held in Swansea who have a fantastic pool and atmosphere. We competed against some of the top teams in the south, like Bath, Cardiff, Swansea and Southampton."
How did you do at the event?
"We had 10 personal bests during the event which is a lot in swimming standards, we also had some good performances from Ieaun Lloyd wining his 100m Individual Medley, 200m Freestyle and 100 Butterfly. Bradley (Price) who won the 50m Butterfly, 100 Butterfly and placed 2nd in his 50 Freestyle and Cathryn Williams who placed 2nd in her 50m Breaststroke."
What is coming up next for Swimming?
"After placing 2nd in the South Qualifiers we will compete in the finals in March and hopefully after that will be promoted to Division 1. We also have a short course (shorter distances) event in December and a Long Course event in February, we have a long time to prepare for them all, especially since we train eight times a week!"
Swimming Coach David Tonge also dropped by to give us his take on why swimming has become so big this year, and where he hopes it is headed.
He said- "The big influx of new fresher’s has definitely helped with the growth and development of our swim team. I feel if we can keep up our hard training and get Dai Watts and his strength and conditioning team involved with us (possibly becoming a focus sport), we will be able to attract new fresher swimmers each year and keep getting good results in BUCS competitions.
Also, we have heard on the grapevine that a new 6 or 8 lane swimming pool is going to be built on campus within the next 12 months, so this definitely will attract new swimmers each year.
If you would like to get involved with swimming contact dtonge@cardiffmet.ac.uk or tweet us @CardiffMetAU.