ENGLAND TALENT PROGRAMME
EAST REGION VS EAST MIDS
CAMBRIDGE Parkside Pool - Licensed Meet,
4^th October 2009

Two New Club Records for Marcus Cook -
100m & 200m Backstroke!

EVENT 6 Boys Open 200m Backstroke
Place Name          AaD  Club        Time                    BAG Pt  50     100     150     200

5^th Marcus COOK  13  E. Mids L1  2:19.18 PB CQT MQT 644  32.49  35.11  36.11  35.47

EVENT 15 Boys Open 100m Backstroke
Place Name       AaD  Club          Time             BAG Pt     50           100

6. Marcus COOK  13 E.  Mids L1   1:06.31 PB CQT   606  32.33 CQT  33.98

While some of our swimmers were enjoying their second day at the Robin Hood meet in Sheffield, the England Talent Programme camps got underway with what they called a “Duel in the Pool”. This particular weekend saw the best from the East Region and the best from the East Midlands go head to head in Cambridge

This “Duel in the Pool” competition was organised as part of the English Talent Programme.  There were 4 events taking place over the same weekend and is where two regions across England will race in a series of events against each other.

Places on these teams are determined by placing and points at Nationals, so it will be no surprise to learn that our own Marcus Cook was also selected. He was picked on this occasion to swim two individual events 100m & 200m Backstroke a stroke he’s not well known for. He did however managed to finish 5^th in the 200m Backstroke producing a fabulous  9sec PB, which not only qualifies him to swim in Midlands Short Course Championships in November but gave him a New Club Record too. He had another excellent swim in the 100m Backstroke too where he produce a 2 second PB to finish in 6^th place setting his second Club Record - but sadly just missed the Midlands qualifying time by just 0.2s. But nevertheless two brilliant swims - Congratulations!

Marcus also had the honour of being chosen for the 4 x 200m freestyle team event where he swam the third leg in a time of 2.05.7 which was well inside he current PB but unfortunately it can’t count as it’s a rolling start - but I’m sure he will be producing that time again or faster in the near future.

You might like to know that the aim of the meet is to give swimmers an opportunity to race top class competition early in the season. And that part of the talent programme's objectives is to capture video footage of each swimmers race, which will then be passed on to their home club coach.  The organisers hope that this will provide essential feedback with data relating to splits, stroke counts, and stroke rates that can be used to focus the swimmers training throughout the new season, all interesting stuff.

We wish Marcus all the very best in the coming months

And watch his development closely. Congratulations!