Molly Renshaw posts British Record at Winter Meet

In the opening events of tonight’s ASA National Winter Meet finals, Molly Renshaw thrilled the crowd with a British Record, while Aimee Willmott and Joseph Hulme added to their growing medal haul.

Day two finals: Women’s 200m Breaststroke

In the Women’s 200m Breaststroke final, Molly Renshaw excited the crowd as she set a new British short course record of 2:18.44 – a time which would have won gold at the recent European Short Course Championships – to take victory .

After the race, a delighted Renshaw said: “I’m so happy with that swim! I really wanted to break the British record but I wasn’t expecting to swim that quick.

“I think it’s important to be strong from the very beginning of the season and hopefully that will keep going and translate into the long course meets next year.

“That swim has given me a lot of confidence, especially with my turns which have been a big focus for me and I need to apply tonight’s success to long course racing in the spring.”

The Loughborough University swimmer was joined on the podium by double World Junior Championships medallist, Katie Matts (Stockport Metro) who took silver in 2:22.98 and edged Renshaw’s teammate, Jocelyn Ulyett (2:22.99), into bronze by the tiniest of margins.

Ellesmere College Titans swimmer Freya Anderson topped the junior podium after a 2:28.79 effort in the B final while City of Sunderland’s Rachel Taylor and City of Sheffield’s Amy Bell claimed junior silver and bronze respectively.

Day two finals: Women’s 800m Freestyle

Commonwealth and European silver medallist Willmott added to her Winter Meet medal haul in the first final of the night.

The London Aquatics Centre swimmer took gold in the 800m Freestyle final in a season’s best time of 8:19.81, dropping 10 seconds of her previous 2015 marker.

After the race, Willmott said: “I’m really happy with that! To go under the 8:20 marker feels good. I’m doing a lot of events here which helps fuel my confidence for the 400 IM and at this time of year, it’s great to be at event like this. It has a really great atmosphere.”

City of Glasgow’s Camilla Hattersley touched second in a new lifetime best of 8:21.70, while local City of Sheffield swimmer Ellie Faulkner took bronze in a season’s best time of 8:23.84.

Newcastle’s Annalea Davison was fastest from the slower morning heats as she took junior gold in 8:40.13 while Newcastle teammate Emily Large won junior silver and City of Leeds’ Leah Crisp bronze.

Day two finals: Men’s 400m IM

Loughborough University’s Fraser Minnican looked in control throughout the Men’s 400m IM, lowering the personal best time set in this morning’s heats to win gold in 4:10.50.

After victory in last night’s 200m Backstroke, Joseph Hulme (Bath University) was back in strong form tonight, taking silver in a new lifetime best of 4:14.50. Taunton Deane’s Jacob Greenow also set a new best time, dropping six seconds of his previous marker to take the final place on the rostrum in 4:15.97.

Hatfield 15-year old Nathan Hughes impressed to reach the open final and claimed junior gold after his 4:23.25 effort while City of Salford swimmer Matthew George and Maidenhead’s Thomas Dean claimed junior silver and bronze respectively.

• Click here to view full results from Sheffield.