British Championships, Day 2 Prelims: Ed Mildred Fires Off PB To Head 200 Fly
Ed Mildred soared to a new PB in the 200 fly as he booked lane four alongside Duncan Scott who was making his first appearance of the 2025 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships in London.
The most-decorated Scottish Olympian in history went in the penultimate heat as James Guy returned the morning after his 400 free victory and Josh Gammon seeks to defend his title. But it was Mildred who staked his claim to lane four as the only man inside 1:58.
Freya Colbert qualified for the Singapore worlds in the 200 free on Tuesday evening when she came within 0.22 of the British record and headed the 400IM in which she was fourth at Paris 2024 while Max Litchfield – fourth at the last three Olympics – went in the men’s 400IM. Katie Shanahan headed the 100 back field in what promises to be a thrilling final.
The men’s 50m breaststroke got the session underway and concluded with the women’s 1500 free.
The meet doubles as trials for the World Championships which run from 27 July to 3 August in Singapore where selection will be based on performances at the Paris Olympics and the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships in London.
Swimmers who won a medal in an individual event at Paris 2024 will be selected to the Great Britain team for this event in Singapore.
Relay medallists will be selected subject to confirmation by the Great Britain head coach, Steve Tigg. The men’s 4×2 free quartet claimed an historic gold as they defended their title from Tokyo with Tom Dean and Guy joining Richards and Scott.
While swimmers who won a medal in an individual event at Paris 2024 will be selected to the Great Britain team for that event in Singapore, no British women reached the podium in the French capital.
To qualify for worlds, a swimmer must finish first in an Olympic event and record a time that equals or betters those in the table below.
Athletes that finish second in a time equal or better than that in the table will be considered for selection to a team that will have a maximum of 30 athletes.
- Start Lists/Results
- Selection Policy
- Preview: Angharad Evans
- Preview: Ollie Morgan
- Aquatics GB YouTube Channel
- BBC Sport website/iPlayer
- Day 1 Prelims Report
- Day 1 Men’s Finals
- Day 1 Women’s Finals
Men’s 50m Breaststroke
Max Morgan returned from winning silver in the 100 in a 17-years age group record of 1:00.10 to post the top time over one length of 27.64, again lowering the age group mark. Archie Goodburn was the other man inside 28secs in 27.75 with Lewis Fraser third through in 28.00.
Men’s 200 Fly
Guy and Scott posted 2:00.11 and 1:58.85 respectively before the final heat, including defending champion Josh Gammon, got underway. However, it was Ed Mildred who caught the eye, going 1:57.02 as he cut almost a second from his PB of 1:58.00 set at the Glasgow International Meet in June 2021. Mildred and Scott booked the centre lanes for Wednesday evening’s final with Gammon the other man inside 2mins in 1:59.83.
Mildred enjoyed junior success over freestyle and butterfly before going on to win senior relay medals on the Commonwealth and European stages. The 22-year-old is among the first cohort at Manchester Performance Centre that started up last year under coach Ryan Livingstone who switched from Millfield with Matt Richards and Guy – who share nine Olympic medals – accompanying him to the north-west.
Mildred told Swimming World: “Ryan’s a good coach, he knows what he’s doing, he’s a smart guy. That is why I moved to him. He’s proved it with Matt (Richards) and Jimmy (James Guy) and all the other swimmers that we’ve got up there. Like Leah (Leah Schlosshan, 200 free silver) last night got the ball rolling well here for Manchester and it seems to be working.”
Women’s 400IM
Colbert has turned her focus away from the 4IM in recent months as she’s taken advantage of post-Olympic year to try new events. the Loughborough swimmer was fourth at Paris 2024, months after being crowned world champion in Doha. On Tuesday night she qualified for Singapore as she rattled the British 200 free standard that has stood to Jo Jackson since July 2009. She returned on Wednesday morning to book lane four for the eight-length event in 4:44.79. Amalie Smith will be alongside her in the final after going 4:45.49, the promising youngster having set a 15-years age group record of 14:41.70 at the Euro Meet in Luxembourg in January. Abbie Wood, bronze medallist at the short-course worlds last December, was third through in 4:46.25.
Men’s 400IM
Max Litchfield booked lane four in 4:17.33 as he continues his quest over eight lengths following heartache in Paris with his third straight fourth place. Charlie Hutchison will be alongside him after posting 4:20.76 with George Smith next through in 4:24.33.
Women’s 100 Back
The final promises to be a corker with Katie Shanahan – who was fifth in the 200 back in Paris – leading the way in 1:00.66. It was a PB for the University of Stirling swimmer who has only recently decided to take up the two-length event after putting the 400IM on the back burner for this season as she wasn’t enjoying it the past few years. Lauren Cox was next swiftest in 1:01.11 with Holly McGill and Blythe Kinsman both on 1:01.21 and European record-holder Kathleen Dawson through in 1:01.54.
Shanahan told Swimming World: “I was looking forward to racing this morning especially after watching everyone last night do well: I always find that if I’m not (swimming) on day one, I’m really eager to go and stuff. I’m happy with that, it’s an event I just picked up this year instead of doing the 4IM so happy it’s kind of paying off. Hopefully (lower that time tonight) but no pressure again – whatever happens, happens. It’s a really good field, obviously Lauren has been sub-60 this year already so close but it’ll be a good race tonight.”
Women’s 1500 Free
Emma Price led the way in 17:07.91 ahead of Alice Forrest (17:11.80) with Amelie Blocksidge expected to claim her third straight title in the fastest heat at the end of the evening, a week after turning 16.