Latest news from Loughborough University
| 22 March 2006 | PR 06/31 |
Commonwealths Gold rush continues on track as swimming draws to a close with yet more medals for Loughborough
Loughborough University’s athletes continue to shine, winning more medals both in the pool and on the track.
As the swimming drew to a close in Melbourne Loughborough secured two Silver medals, including a sixth for Mel Marshall. The first Silver came in the men’s 4x100m Medley Relay with Backstroke hero Liam Tancock leading off in a new British Record time of 54.42. Chris Cook (Newcastle) maintained the pressure, leaving current Loughborough student Matt Bowe and Loughborough-trained swimmer Ross Davenport to take the Silver medal behind the Australians. The race gave Tancock and Davenport their third medals of the Games.
The second Silver came in the Women’s 4x100 Medley Relay. This race featured Loughborough’s Melanie Marshall and Kate Haywood, along with non-Loughborough swimmers Terri Dunning and Fran Halsall.
The medals mark the end of a magnificent Commonwealth Games for the University’s swimmers, and many now move on to the Long Course Championships in Beijing.
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Lisa Dobriskey |
On the track English graduate Lisa Dobriskey put in a spectacular performance to claim a surprise Gold in the women’s 1,500m. The British number three was fifth entering the finishing straight but timed her run to perfection to storm past the field for the Gold. She completed the race in 4:06.21 – shaving nearly two seconds off her personal best. Dobriskey, who still trains at the University with Athletics Director George Gandy, said: “I just wanted to make the final. I knew I had a chance to do well, but never in a million years thought I’d win the gold. I’m absolutely gobsmacked.” |
In the same race Manchester Silver medallist Hayley Tullett, who is another Loughborough graduate (1995, Sports Science) won the Bronze medal, just ahead of England’s Helen Clitheroe. Tullett performed well, gaining a medal despite recovering from injury and surgery.
The Loughborough medal count now stands at 22 in Melbourne – overtaking what was thought to be a phenomenal and unsurpassable 18 in Manchester in 2002 on ‘home turf’.
For a full update on the achievements of Loughborough University’s athletes in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, including the medal table and ‘Roll of Honour’ visit:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/publicity/commonwealth_games/
Ends
For further information contact:
- Dr Guy Jackson, Head of Marketing and Development,
Sports Development Centre, E: G.A.M.Jackson@lboro.ac.uk
Notes for editors:
Loughborough has an established reputation for excellence in teaching
and research, strong links with industry, and unrivalled sporting achievement.
Assessments of teaching quality by the Quality Assurance Agency place
it in the top flight of UK universities; the National Student Survey ranked
Loughborough equal first among full-time students; and industry highlights
the University in its top five for graduate recruitment. Around 40% of
Loughborough’s income is for research, and 60% for teaching. The
University has been awarded five Queen's Anniversary Prizes: for its collaboration
with aerospace and automotive companies such as BAE Systems, Ford and
Rolls Royce; for its work in developing countries; for pioneering research
in optical engineering; for its world-leading role in sports research,
education and development; and for its outstanding work in evaluating
and helping to develop social policy-related programmes.
In 2006 Loughborough celebrates the 40th anniversary of its University
Charter, awarded on 19 April 1966 in recognition of the excellence achieved
by Loughborough College of Advanced Technology and its predecessor Colleges.
Loughborough University of Technology was renamed Loughborough University
in 1996.