Lloyd’s Games hopes still alive

SWIMMING:

JESSICA Lloyd’s hopes of earning Team England selection for summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are still alive.

But fellow Oldhamer Jessica Fullalove hasn’t made the Games showpiece after failing to reach very tough qualifying times at the British Gas Swimming Championships.

Diggle-based Lloyd (19) will go in the 50m and 100m freestyle finals tonight, though her times of 25.77 seconds and 55.24secs in the semi-finals respectively mean she must finish in the top four to be in with a chance of a place in the Games relay team.

London 2012 Olympian Lloyd also goes in the 200m freestyle, heats for which got underway this morning.

Fullalove (17), from Royton, secured a bronze medal in the 200m backstroke event and finished fourth in the 100m final, but times of 2mins, 12.66secs and 1:01.05 weren’t quick enough to earn qualification for the Glasgow Games.

She begins her 50m backstroke bid today, but so far Fullalove’s times for that event are well below the qualifying mark.

Fullalove’s mum Suzanne said: “Jess is heartbroken to be honest. She’s worked so hard in training, but the qualifying times are tough and we haven’t quite made it. There’s always next time. A busy year is ahead of Jessica, and she’ll soon get over this disappointment, we’re all confident of that.”