LIVE: British Championships, Day Two Finals: Peaty, Dawson, Greenbank & Wood In Action

Luke Greenbank: Photo Courtesy: British Swimming

Olympic champions Adam Peaty, Kathleen Dawson and James Guy are among the swimmers featuring in the second finals session of the British Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.

So too is Luke Greenbank who squeaked into the 100 back final after twists and turns including ineligibility rules and a swim-off that never happened.

The six-day meet doubles as trials for the World Championships in Budapest in June and also offers an opportunity for athletes to book a slot on their respective home nations teams for the Commonwealth Games in July as well as the European Juniors in Bucharest, Romania.

Women’s 800 Free

Budapest qualification time: 8:23.59

Britain has a fine recent history in this event with Becky Adlington claiming Olympic gold in 2008 and Jazz Carlin winning silver at Rio 2016 while Joanne Jackson and Rebecca Cooke both reached the world podium.

Leah Crisp enjoyed a clear win in 8:45.98.

Men’s 50m Breaststroke

Peaty described his return to the water as a “comeback” given Sheffield is just his second meet since Tokyo.

The three-time Olympic champion went 27.10 in prelims for the fastest time of 2022 and he returned in the evening to crack 27secs in 26.91.

James Wilby (27.16) and Craig Benson (27.55) took second and third.

Women’s 50m Butterfly

Harriet Jones headed the field into the final and she returned to win in a season’s best of 26.48.

Men’s 200m Butterfly

Budapest qualification time: 1:55.33

Mason Wilby led the heats ahead of Jay Lelliott and James Guy in an event in which two slots are up for grabs.

Guy went through the 100 in 54.50 and at 1:24.50 at the final turn, the two-time Olympic relay champion held a clear lead and it was all about the consideration time.

He drove on and touched in 1:56.31 – outside the cut – ahead of Wilby (1:57.31) and Lelliott (1:57.77).

Women’s 100m Backstroke

Budapest qualification time: 59.02

Medi Harris led the way into the final ahead of European champion Kathleen Dawson who was preselected following sixth in Tokyo last July.

Harris rose ahead and turned first in 28.90 and pulled away down the second 50 to touch in 59.95 ahead of Lauren Cox (1:00.84) and Dawson (1:01.05).

Men’s 100m Backstroke

Budapest qualification time: 53.32

The final featured Greenbank after the Olympic men’s medley relay silver medallist squeaked in despite finishing joint ninth with Craig McNally.

However, it transpired that Sebastian Somerset – who qualified fifth – was ineligible to compete in the final as his switch from representing Canada to Britain has not yet been ratified by FINA. That meant a swim-off for Greenbank and McNally only for the pair to decide the former would compete in the A final and the latter in the B.

McNally won his race in 55.03 before Greenbank claimed victory from lane eight in 54.56 ahead of Brodie Williams (54.68).

Women’s 200m Breaststroke

Budapest qualification time: 2:23.31

Molly Renshaw is not competing at Ponds Forge having been preselected and in her place teammate and close friend Abbie Wood led the way into the final.

Wood – preselected in the 200IM following fourth in Tokyo – led from start to finish for a clear victory in 2:24.28, outside the cut.

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