Luke Greenbank was just 0.11 seconds off James Goddard‘s British 200m backstroke record in 1:55.69 in the first morning heats of the British Swimming Invitation Meet in Manchester.
It was a new PB for Greenbank, who won bronze at the 2019 World Championships, as he closes in on the mark of 1:55.58 set by Goddard in October 2010 at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.
Greenbank split 27.76/56.87/1:26.31 before coming home in 29.38 to head the morning field by almost five seconds from Brodie Williams of Bath who clocked 2:00.67 at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.
It comes a month after the world relay champion went 1:56.33 to win the Manchester International Swim Meet and augurs well for Tokyo where there will be morning finals.
It propelled Greenbank, who is coached by Mel Marshall at the National Centre Loughborough, to the top of the world rankings with the Briton only the second man this year to dip inside 1:56 following Kosuke Hagino’s 1:55.84 last month.
Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu / ISL
Olympic champion Adam Peaty headed the 100br heats in 59.45, Dan Jervis went 3:51.74 in the 400fr, Ben Proud was fastest into the 50fr final in 22.43 and James Guy leads the way in the 100 fly in 52.93 where Duncan Scott made a welcome return to competitive waters in 53.83, fourth fastest into Friday evening’s final.
Molly Renshaw went 2:25.04 in the 200br, Emily Large clocked 2:10.39 in the 200 fly, Anna Hopkin touched in 25.17 in the 50fr and Holly Hibbott headed the 400 free in 4:17.16.#
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Japans IMer went 1:55 this year too!
Thank you. Copy updated to reflect that.