Swimming: Benson wins after Commie comeback

Warrender’s Craig Benson,
the youngest Team GB swimmer at last year’s Olympics, was involved in one of the closest tussles on the opening day of the Scottish Gas National Age Group Championships at the Commonwealth Pool.
By ELSPETH BURNSIDE
Published 11th Apr 2013, 13:00 BST

The 18-year-old had to battle hard to secure victory in the 17 and over 200m breaststroke. A 100m specialist, he came from behind to win in 2:13.84 – West Dunbartonshire’s Ross 
Murdoch was second in 2:13.92.

“I’ve been in hard training so it was especially hard down the last length,” Benson admitted. “Ross was ahead but I just tried to keep going and hunt him down.”

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Keri-Anne Payne, the English
swimmer who competed in Open Water at the Olympics, joined Warrender following her marriage to Scot David Carry last September and she claimed the 17 and over 400m 
individual medley in 4.43.89.

Craig McNally (Warrender) finished second in the 100m backstroke, but still took the 
National title in 57.40. His great rival from Preston, Ryan 
Bennett, won the gold in 55.88.

Daniel Lim, another Warrender swimmer, won the 16-17 200m breaststroke in 2:23.19.

Keanna MacInnes (Heart of Midlothian) showed she is one to watch by setting a Scottish record of 2:84.50 in finishing with the bronze medal in the 10-12 years 20m butterfly.