\u201cThat was a really good time. I thought if I could get to 58-mids here, with no crowd and not such a big atmosphere, I could do it anywhere.<\/p>\n
“That would nearly have won Europeans and I’m on my backside. It’s looking good.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stroke feels strong, training’s going well, mentally I’m in a great place. But going into the Olympics, a lot changes, so I just want to maintain consistency now, enjoy the ride, all the work is pretty much done, so it’s just tuning up now and putting on a good show.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always want a smooth stroke. Everything is pointing towards going near a PB, a world record, but it’s never as simple as that. We’ll go back to training, see what we’ve got and enjoy it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Sarah Vasey<\/strong> and Renshaw will compete in the 100br in Tokyo and it was the former who led at halfway in 31.68 with Kara Hanlon<\/strong> in second.<\/p>\n
The 200 specialist Renshaw, who set the British record of 1:06.21 in Budapest, came back on the second 50 and in the final metres she and Vasey were stroke for stroke.<\/p>\n
Renshaw, who has the most beautiful of long strokes, spotted the touch in 1:07.45, 0.10 ahead of Vasey (1:07.55) with Hanlon third in 1:08.72.<\/p>\n
Stephens Takes Flight<\/h3>\n $\"Laura$
Laura Stephens: Photo Courtesy: British Swimming<\/p><\/div>\n
Stephens’ time of 2:07.04<\/a> was a PB by more than half a second and propelled her to fifth in the rankings.<\/p>\n
It was also 1.28secs within the consideration time of 2:08.32 although the British Swimming selection policy stated times be done in the final.<\/p>\n
Come the final and it was Alys Thomas<\/strong> who led at halfway 1:02.37 to 1:02.72.<\/p>\n
Stephens though turned that into a lead of 0.09 at the final turn before a last 50 of 32.80 saw her home in 2:08.15, 0.17 inside the consideration time.<\/p>\n
Final nominations will be announced on Tuesday 8 June with Stephens – who won European women’s 4×100 medley gold – on course to join Thomas in the 200 fly.<\/p>\n
Thomas was second in 2:09.44 with Emily Large<\/strong> rounding out the top three in 2:11.39.<\/p>\n
Stephens said:<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn’t really ask for much more at this meet. It’s been really tough turning it round after selection trials, having a bit of a disappointing swim there, and Europeans also, more strong swims but outside the consideration time.<\/p>\n
“So to come here and get it twice, with a pretty substantial PB yesterday, was really the icing on the cake. Third time’s a charm, isn’t it?!<\/p>\n
\u201cIn all honesty, I didn’t come in with any expectations, I just came in with an open mind.<\/p>\n
“We’ve been in a bit of a difficult situation with training, do we taper, do we not taper, so I’m not exactly fully rested for this meet. I just came in and thought, ‘it’s my last shot, so I’m going to give it everything I have’ – and it’s paid off.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Ed Mildred<\/strong> is one for Paris 2024, the Northampton swimmer having won three gold and two silver medals at the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival.<\/p>\n
He won the men’s 200 fly in 1:58.00 ahead of Jay Lelliott<\/strong> (1:58.54) and Jacob Greenow<\/strong> (2:02.69).<\/p>\n
Litchfield Takes It To The Max; No Tokyo For Miley<\/h3>\n
$\"16th$
Max Litchfield: Photo Courtesy: Georgie Kerr, British SwimmingLitchfield built up a lead throughout each leg of the 400IM and was 12 metres ahead going into the free.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n
Litchfield built up a lead throughout each leg and was 12 metres ahead going into the freestyle.<\/p>\n
The Loughborough NTC swimmer split 57.44\/2:02.67\/3:14.65\/4:12.81 to post a time that promises much given it was unrested.<\/p>\n
Charlie Hutchison<\/strong> (4:23.38) and Brodie Williams<\/strong> (4:24.13) rounded out the top three.<\/p>\n
Litchfield, the European bronze medallist, was fourth in Rio.<\/p>\n
Wood and Miley went stroke-for-stroke on the backstroke with youngster Katie Shanahan<\/strong> – one for Paris 2024 – joining them to move into first.<\/p>\n
Wood opened up a healthy lead on the breaststroke and was three body-lengths ahead going into the free to come home in 4:39.96.<\/p>\n
Miley was second in 4:44.00 with Shanahan rounding out the top three in 4:45.42.<\/p>\n
Injury disrupted Miley’s preparations for the April trials and Tokyo will be the first time since Beijing 2008 that she will not feature in an Olympic final.<\/p>\n
The Scot was sixth in 2008, fifth four years later in London and then fourth at Rio 2016, where she was overtaken in the final metres by Maria Belmonte<\/strong>, locked out of the podium by 0.15.<\/p>\n
Her focus turns to 2022 and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, where the 31-year-old will seek to add to the three 400IM medals – two of them gold – she has claimed at the last three Games.<\/p>\n
Scott Too Hot To Handle<\/h3>\n
$\"18th$
Duncan Scott: Photo Courtesy: Georgie Kerr, British Swimming<\/p><\/div>\n
Cameron Kurle<\/strong> had swum a PB of 1:46.62 to book lane four as he looked to make his case to be selected for the 4×200 relay in Tokyo.<\/p>\n
Scott and Tom Dean top the world rankings with times of 1:44.47 and 1:44.58 respectively from the British trials – both inside the previous national record.<\/p>\n
It was Dean who led at 50 with Kurle ahead at halfway when Scott made his move to turn first at 150.<\/p>\n
The University of Stirling<\/strong> swimmer came home in 1:46.02 ahead of Dean (1:46.46) with James Guy<\/strong> producing the fastest final 50 of 27.17 to take third in 1:46.49.<\/p>\n
Kurle’s time of 1:46.90 was also inside the cut to throw his hat in the ring for the relay.<\/p>\n
Scott – who shares a flat with Kurle – said:<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at that, that’s a world-class field right there. I’ve got to say a special mention to Cam Kurle.<\/p>\n
“To go 1:46.6 at night, coming back, being in lane four of a heat like that and going 1:46.9, it would’ve been a PB if he didn’t swim last night. He’s a really good training partner as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s always a pleasure racing those boys, really honest efforts throughout the season. It’s a really good, competitive environment, which is what you need.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s really good to see. With it being a relay event as well, as much as we all are competing against each other, it makes it a special rivalry because we are teammates at the end of the day. I think that comes first, and then the rivalry comes second.<\/p>\n
“It’s a really positive place to be in and it has moved on in the last couple of years – Cam this morning, Joe Litchfield<\/strong> last night as well. Hopefully he’s given the selectors a bit of a headache.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Lucy Hope<\/strong> was a body-length clear at 100 in the women’s race with Freya Anderson<\/strong> tickling her toes before the Scot pulled away on the third 50.<\/p>\n
Come the last length and Anderson ate away into her deficit, closing with each stroke in the final metres but Hope – who left Budapest with four gold relay medals – touched first in 1:58.78.<\/p>\n
Anderson (1:59.26) and Emma Russell (2:00.91) were second and third respectively.<\/p>\n
Dawson Brings It Back<\/h3>\n
$\"DAWSON$
Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Perottino \/ Deepbluemedia \/ Insidefoto<\/p><\/div>\n
Kathleen Dawson<\/strong> won the 50 back in 27.64 ahead of Georgia Davies<\/strong> who clocked 28.07.<\/p>\n
Dawson returns in the 100 back heats on Saturday evening, the University of Stirling a swimmer who begs the question of what she will do next whenever she gets on the blocks.<\/p>\n
Martyn Walton<\/strong> won the men’s race in 25.62.<\/p>\n
Dan Jervis<\/strong> ploughed a lone furrow in the men’s 800 free to win in 7:52.60, outside the consideration time.<\/p>\n
The Welshman has qualified for Tokyo in the 1500 in which he is a two-time Commonwealth medallist and could possibly be slotted in to the 800, which is making its Olympic debut on the men’s programme in Tokyo.<\/p>\n
Emily Clarke<\/strong> won the women’s 16-length event in 8:57.93 ahead of Ella Dyson<\/strong> (8:59.26), the pair the only swimmers inside nine minutes.<\/p>\n
Harvey Lowers British Record Once More<\/h3>\n
$\"Grace$
Grace Harvey: Photo Courtesy: British Swimming<\/p><\/div>\n
There was another British record for Grace Harvey<\/strong> in the women\u2019s MC 100m breaststroke, a day after she bettered her own mark for the SB5 category.<\/p>\n
She clocked 1:41.42 to knock 0.3 off the record she set on Friday \u2013 and Harvey is continuing to show impressive form off the back of a stunning set of swims at the British Para-Swimming International Meet in April.<\/p>\n
She said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a great swim! I learned from the heats last night and just continued to build my stroke throughout the race.<\/p>\n
“I’m now really hoping to have a decent 100m freestyle. It’s not an event I’ve really been looking at, I just want to enjoy the swim, really.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Scott Quin<\/strong> also improved on his heats time to claim victory in the men\u2019s 100m MC breaststroke, while Tom Hamer<\/strong> \u2013 back from winning two medals at the recent World Para Swimming European Open Championships in Madeira \u2013 came out on top in the men\u2019s 200 MC freestyle.<\/p>\n
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Stephens Takes Flight<\/h3>\nLaura Stephens: Photo Courtesy: British Swimming<\/p><\/div>\n