Adam Peaty Goes 58.52 In 100 Breast; Proud, Renshaw, Dawson And Guy On Form In Manchester
Adam Peaty went 58.52 in the 100m breaststroke on the first night of finals at the British Swimming Invitation Meet that also featured a national 200 back record from Luke Greenbank.
There were also notable performances from Ben Proud in the 50 free, Molly Renshaw in the 200 breaststroke and James Guy in the 100 fly while Kathleen Dawson set a Scottish 50 back record of 27.63 at the Manchester Aquatic Centre.
Peaty split 27.19/31.33 to stop the clock in first ahead of James Wilby who touched in 59.31 as the pair replicated their one-two finish from the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju with Ross Murdoch third on his competition return in 1:01.38.
Peaty and Wilby have been pre-selected to Team GB for Tokyo 2020 along with Greenbank and Duncan Scott.
It matched the time in which Peaty won his first world title in Kazan, Russia, in 2015 and while it was only his joint 22nd-fastest time, it was one that has been bettered only by the Briton and four others – Ilya Shymanovich (58.29), Arno Kamminga (58.43) with Wilby and Cameron van der Burgh both having clocked 58.46, the latter a then world record en-route to 2012 Olympic gold.
Peaty said:
“I think off the last month I executed the race plan really well, but it was a hard race in terms of getting up for it.
“I think the biggest challenge now as athletes is getting yourself into that zone where you can perform when there’s an empty crowd and you can’t feel the awe around the place.
“I did what I could; you know it’s still extremely fast – that would probably medal at worlds – so I’m in a very good place.”
James Wilby: Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
Wilby – the joint fourth-fastest man in history in the event – added:
“The last 12 months have been a challenge for everyone, and personally I’ve found it challenging to get back into competition.
“It’s taken me a little while to find my groove but I’m happy to back where I was, give or take, this time last year.
“The main thing is that I feel good going into trials, because I know when we enter a tapered competition phase there’s that natural drop down and so I’m looking forward to it.”
The meet is being run under strict COVID protocols, and with a limited number of athletes eligible to compete based on the government’s Elite Athlete Return to Training lists.
Wilby acknowledged those unable to train, saying:
“It’s really challenging for everyone, and we’ve been really fortunate in that we’ve been able to be in the water pretty consistently.
“I really do sympathise with the people who aren’t able to train and I hope the light at the end of the tunnel remains there – we can see it and let’s just hope that timeline remains in place.”
Proud, Renshaw And Guy All Shine
Ben Proud Blasts From His Blocks – Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Proud set down a marker in the 50 free of 22.15 on his return to competitive waters with clear daylight between him and Matt Richards who clocked 22.81 for second.
Renshaw was a clear winner of the 200br in 2:22.78 which was 0.70secs outside the time she went in the same pool four weeks ago.
The three-time Commonwealth medallist matched Jocelyn Ullyett’s British record of 2:22.08 on that occasion.
Renshaw, who is coached by Dave Hemmings at the National Centre Loughborough, was 0.50secs outside that time at halfway and although she reduced it by a further 0.04 at the final turn, there was too much to make up on the back 50.
Ulyett was second in 2:26.19.
Guy led from start to finish to go 51.71 in the 100 fly, splitting 24.19/27.52 for victory ahead of Jacob Peters (52.73) and Joe Litchfield who set a PB of 52.86.
Duncan Scott was fifth in 53.58 on his return to competition.
Dawson Lowers Her Own Scottish 50 Back Mark
Kathleen Dawson: Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble
Kathleen Dawson set a new PB of 27.63 in the 50 back to lower her own Scottish record and go second in the fledgling rankings behind only Australian Kaylee McKeown who has clocked 27.38 in January. Georgia Davies, the European record-holder, was second in 28.06.
Dawson, who is coached by Steven Tigg at the University of Stirling, said:
“I’m very pleased with it – it’s a PB and a Scottish record, so I’m very happy.
“We’ve been doing time trials at Stirling and I’ve been swimming well, so I was quite confident in myself that I could replicate those swims at an official meet – it’s great to actually do it.”
Laura Stephens won the 200 fly in 2:08.58 as she held off a fast-finishing Emily Large (2:09.54).
Anna Hopkin took the 50 free in 25.46 with a narrow victory over Lucy Hope (25.50).
Dan Jervis led for all but 50m to win the 400 free in 3:49.74 ahead of Luke Turley who touched 2.74secs behind in 3:52.51.
Holly Hibbott dominated the women’s 400 free to win in 4:12.26, 4.29secs ahead of Leah Crisp who clocked 4:16.55 in second.
In the para-swimming multi-classification races, Zara Mullooly won the 400 free in 4:41.56, Ellie Challis went 56.66 as the sole swimmer in the 50 back
Michael Jones won the men’s 400fr in 4:48.88, Rhys Davies ploughed a lone furrow to clock 2:16.31 in the 200 back and Stephen Clegg took the 100 fly in 58.24.
Conner Morrison won the 100br in 1:08.98 and Jordan Catchpole took the 50 free in 25.03.
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