November 8, 2010 3.36 pm This story is over 159 months old

First place in UK for Lincolnite swimmer

Deserving winner: Local young swimmer Hayley Williams achieved the highest ranking in the UK last weekend.

Lincoln swimmer Hayley Williams has been ranked number one in the UK for her age group at the Midlands Swimming 2010 Short Course Championships.

Williams won two gold medals at the weekend, two bronze medals, gained ten personal best times out of twelves races and made the finals in eight events.

She won gold medals for the 100m breaststroke and the 50m breaststroke short course.

The 16-year-old even set a new county record in the 50m freestyle race and beat of competitors from the Commonwealth Games.

She managed to beat fellow swimmers from Birmingham University and Loughborough University as well as county teams from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Williams was delighted with her success at the trials:

“I feel that all my hard work is now starting to pay off and things will continue to improve as I continue with my training under Fred Furniss who is the driving force.

“I was absolutely delighted with my performance especially  given the level of the competition and competitors.”

Williams is funded by Lincoln Sportsman’s Club and is a member of the Lincolnshire Elite Athlete Programme (LEAP), which funds upcoming athletes all over the county.

LEAP Project Officer Rachel Belcher said: “We are very proud to have Hayley at Lincolnshire Elite Athlete Programme.

“She has had an excellent year, and these results reflect this immensely. Athletes like Hayley are very important to Lincolnshire and I hope that the rest of the county appreciate her talent.

The swimmer is also a finalist at the Lincolnshire Sports Awards 2010 on November 11, for Young Sportswoman of the Year 2010.

Source, Photo: Lincolnshire Sports Partnership