Dawson Scorches To 58.65 Over 100 Back In Manchester: Second British Woman Inside 59 Seconds

Kathleen Dawson: Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble

Kathleen Dawson became only the second British woman to go inside 59 seconds over 100 backstroke – and the first in textile – when she scorched to a time of 58.65 on the second night of the British Swimming Invitation Meet.

Her University of Stirling team-mate Duncan Scott also enjoyed a fine evening with victories over 100 free and 200IM at the Manchester Aquatic Centre.

Link to results

There were also notable victories for Adam Peaty, Freya Anderson, Sarah Vasey, James Guy and Aimee Willmott.

Dawson has been on sizzling form in Manchester and set a new Scottish record of 27.63 in the 50 back on Friday.

The 23-year-old returned the following morning to set a new PB in the 1oo heats of 59.36 before obliterating that mark in the evening as she cut a further 0.71secs for a new Scottish record.

Only Gemma Spofforth has gone quicker among British women with her national record of 58.12 – which is also a European mark – standing since 2009 and the era of the shiny suits.

Dawson split 28.24/30.41 to propel herself to the top of the fledgling rankings, toppling world record- holder Regan Smith and her 59.39 from last week’s TYR Pro Swim Series.

Stirling team-mate Cassie Wild was second in 59.56.

Dawson said:

“I’m over the moon with that! I mean I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I kind of expected to go a 58 because I’ve been swimming so well at these time trials we’ve been doing in Stirling, so it was expected, but I’m still buzzing with it.

“This morning I had kind of relaxed the first 50 so I knew I had more to give in the first 50 tonight, and then I just wanted to repeat the second fifty like I did this morning so it all just came together.”

On Wild’s swim, she added:

“We’ve been training so well together and I’m really proud of her – we’ve both been swimming class and looking at that opportunity to make the Olympics.”

Double Victory For Great Scott As Peaty Turns Up The Heat

Peaty scorched to a winning time of 26.80 in the 50br – almost a second ahead of James Wilby over one length of a pool with his fellow Loughborough swimmer clocking 27.77.

Duncan Scott: Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu / ISL

Scott is returning to long-course action at the three-day meet for the first time in a year with the Scottish-based athletes unable to compete at last month’s Manchester International Meet at the very same pool.

The two-time Olympic relay silver medallist was fifth in the 100 fly on Friday evening – an event he focuses little on – and returned on Saturday for his double-pronged finals session.

The University of Stirling swimmer was first up in the 200IM where Luke Greenbank, who set a British record of 1:55.34 in the 200 back on Friday, led at halfway with Joe Litchfield second.

Scott though moved up to first at the final turn, a position he never relinquished to touch in 1:59.36 ahead of the Litchfield brothers, Joe who clocked 1:59.71 and Max (2:00.96).

He returned for the 100 free where Tom Dean went out like a shot and led at halfway in 23.67 with Scott second 0.36 adrift.

Scott – who holds the national record of 47.47 – came back on the second 50 and moved on to Dean’s shoulder to touch in 49.09, 0.02secs ahead.

Dean was second in a PB of 49.11 with Matt Richards third in 49.44.

Scott said:

“It was good. I train to do doubles like that and it was good I was able to execute the races the way that I wanted to.

“They were hard races and there are some boys in there who are really quick and it was good to go against some of those 200 IM boys.

“It’s a year since I raced the Edinburgh International so it was good to get back out there with some long course racing and I really enjoyed it, especially the 100 free.

“It was really tight and it was good to see a couple of the boys with PBs in there, which is really good for British Swimming and with the trials coming up.”

Guy Flies To Victory As Anderson Overhauls Wood

Guy dominated the 200 fly to add the four-length race to the 100 he had won on Friday.

The double Olympic silver medallist split 25.46/54.77/1:25.39 followed by a final-50 blast of 31.40 for victory in 1:56.79.

Ed Mildred was second in 2:00.07.

Freya Anderson: Photo Courtesy: MIKE LEWIS / ISL

The expected 200 freestyle duel in lanes four and five between Anderson and Abbie Wood did eventually materialise but it was Lucy Hope who led at halfway after going out like a rocket in 57.03.

Wood finally took the lead at the final turn – albeit by just 0.01secs – with Anderson third, 0.40secs behind.

Wood, who was a standout star at the Manchester International, forged ahead only for Anderson to move alongside her going into the final 15m before taking the touch in 1:58.23 to 1:58.42.

Vasey Takes 100 Breaststroke Win

Vasey led from start to finish to win the 100br in 1:07.09 despite the attention of 200br winner Molly Renshaw on the second 50.

Vasey, the Commonwealth 50br champion, split 31.37/35.72 with Renshaw second in 1:07.42.

Daniel Jervis; Photo Courtesy: FINIS

Willmott dominated the 400IM to win in 4:39.11 with clear daylight between the Commonwealth champion and Lily Booker in second in 4:47.39.

Dan Jervis led from start to finish in the 1500 free to win by more than 20 seconds in 15:02.43 ahead of Tobias Robinson who clocked 15:24.22.

The Welsh swimmer, who won the 400 free on the opening day, went 14:58.05 four weeks ago at the Manchester International in the very same pool and although he didn’t dip inside 15 minutes on this occasion, Jervis now holds the two fastest times so far in 2021.

Nick Pyle won the 50 back in 26.48 and Harriet Jones won the women’s 50 fly in 26.51.

In the para-swimming multi-classification races, Reece Dunn won the men’s 50 back in 28.24 – a British S14 record.

Rhys Davies took the 200IM in 2:19.16, Scott Quin won the 50br in 31.03, 0.01 ahead of Conner Morrison and Louis Lawlor took the 100 free in 54.83.

Zara Mullooly added the 200 free to the 400 she won on Friday in 2:13.30 – a national S10 record.

Hannah Russell took the 100 back in 1:09.90, Ellie Challis touched in the 50 fly in 1:02.88 in which Toni Shaw set a new S9 national record of 31.83 and Maisie Summers-Newton took the 100br in 1:35.24.

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