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Fletcher and Blackburn reach B finals

Disappointed: Blackburn was last in her heat

Julian Fletcher and Lisa Blackburn have both qualified for tonight’s 100 metres breaststroke B finals at the Pan Am Games.

Fletcher, 24, placed fifth in his heat in a time of 1min 03.87sec to finish fourteenth overall.

Blackburn, a three-times Pan Am Games athlete, came last in her heat in a disappointing time 1:16.04 to finish sixteenth out of 21 swimmers.

Both athletes will return to the Aquatics Centre at the University of Toronto Scarborough tonight looking for much improved times.

Blackburn was far from happy with her sluggish performance considering her qualifying time was 1:12.86.

“I had a great warm-up, a great start, but I’m really not happy with that time at all,” said the 44-year-old, who finished seventh in Wednesday’s 200 B final in 2:46.32.

“I’m actually quite disappointed. I’ve been training really hard and I think I’ve been doing all the right things.

“I don’t really know what went wrong and I’ll have to talk to my coach and watch the video.

“It wasn’t there today and I can’t put my finger on it.”

Fletcher also hoped for a quicker time but believes that competing in front of a packed crowd tonight will bring out the best in him.

“It wasn’t the time I wanted and I think I could have come back in the second 50 a little stronger,” said Fletcher, whose qualifying time was 1:03.86. “I was pleased with the swim but not the time.

“I think the excitement of the finals and competing in front of a packed crowd will help drive me. I’d love a 1:02 tonight.”

Tonight’s breaststroke B finals start at 9.40pm, Bermuda time.