LISKEARD swimmer Cassie Patten qualified for the women’s

800m freestyle final in Beijing this afternoon.

The former Plymouth Leander star, 21, finished third in the

final heat, in 8:25.01 to dramatically book the eighth and

final place in Saturday’s final (3.03am UK time).

Patten, who also swims next Wednesday in her favourite

event, the 10km open water, started slowly in seventh in her

heat.

But she recovered in the latter stages to snatch the final

qualification place.

For full story – see tomorrow’s edition of The Herald