Olympians fine-tune preparations for Tokyo with first morning finals sessions

Britain’s Olympic swimmers have been fine-tuning their preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Games by taking part in their first morning finals sessions at the British Swimming Glasgow Meet.

The event at the Tollcross International Sports Centre is staging finals in the morning and heats in the evening – just as the Games in Japan will do in a month’s time.

Several members of the squad were in action and a number lowered their heat times in some exciting races.

A high-quality field in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley saw University of Stirling’s Duncan Scott edge out the Litchfield brothers for top spot.

Scott finished in 1:57.28 – almost four-and-a-half seconds faster than his heat time – to finish 1.84 ahead of Loughborough National Centre’s Max Litchfield, who clocked 1:59.12.

It was a thrilling race for the wall between the Litchfield brothers but Max just nicked it by 0.01 seconds as Joe finished third in 1:59.13.

Abbie Wood put on a dominant performance in the Women’s 200m Individual Medley, lowering her heat time by almost a second as she cruised to victory.

The Loughborough National Centre swimmer touched home in 2:09.24 – 4.25 seconds ahead of her nearest challenger, Guildford’s Alicia Wilson, who clocked 2:13.49.

University of Stirling’s Aimee Willmott took third place in a time of 2:19.24.

Wood said: “I think it was tough for everyone to get up, my only goal was just to go faster than last night.

“I did that and so it’s putting good practice in for Tokyo. You can’t have excuses because everyone’s in the same boat, it’s about who has prepared the best – and British Swimming putting on morning finals is preparing the team really well.”

Maisie Summers-Newton won the multi-classification race in a time of 3:01.55 from her fellow SM6 swimmer Ellie Simmonds, who recorded 3:08.84.

“I’m really happy,” said Summers-Newton. “A 3:01, that’s quite a solid race for me, it gives me quite a bit of confidence for training into the Games because it’s less than 100 days away now.

“I put a little bit of pressure on myself because we are getting such limited times to race, but every time I do, I’m always like, ‘that went quite well!’

“It’s great for everyone to be together, just to see everyone else race as well, it’s good for that aspect too. You’ve got the Scottish guys up here, this is like their home, and it’s great to see everyone. I’ve also got my Northampton team-mates here and it’s nice to see everyone from home.”

Peaty cruises to victory

Adam Peaty lowered his heat time as he won the 50m Breaststroke in 26.86.

Peaty, who qualified in 27.00, was 0.89 ahead of his Loughborough National Centre colleague David Murphy, who took second in 27.75, with University of Stirling’s Ross Murdoch third in 28.85.

Sarah Vasey was victorious in the women’s race as she clocked 31.00 to win by 0.87 second from Edinburg University’s Kara Hanlon (31.87).

Millfield’s Anna Morgan was third in 32.40.

James Guy left the rest of the field trailing in his wake as he victorious in the Men’s 100m Butterfly.

The Bath University swimmer finished in a quick time of 51.16 – 1.55 clear of Bath National Centre’s Jacob Peters who finished second in 52.71

Northampton’s Edward Mildred was third in 53.43.

Guy was thrilled with his performance and said: “Considering we’ve just driven 450 miles to get to Glasgow, what a great swim!

“That was very unexpected. Since Europeans, we’ve been straight back into work with the eye on the bigger prize of Tokyo – but what a great swim to start the meet off.

“This meet here is a prep meet, trying new things before Tokyo, and obviously morning finals is a big part of that. So to do that time in the morning is a good time.

“I’m in a great place, I feel really confident with what I’m doing. I feel happy at home, and I think having that balance between swimming and lifestyle at home is really important. Everything is coming together quite nicely.”

The Women’s 100m Butterfly proved to be a much closer contest with only 0.42 seconds separating the top three.

City of Cardiff’s Harriet Jones was first home in 59.27, with University of Stirling’s Keanna Macinnes second in 59.57 and Swansea University’s Alys Thomas third in 59.69.

Greenbank wins competitive contest 

European silver medallist Luke Greenbank was triumphant in a competitive Men’s 200m Backstroke race.

Greenbank was the third fastest qualifier from the heats but was 1.41 seconds faster than his heat time as he won in a time of 1:58.12.

The Loughborough National Centre swimmer was 0.22 quicker than his team-mate Elliott Clogg, who had qualified fastest from the heats but had to settle for second in 1:58.34.

University of Stirling’s Craig McNally was third in 1:58.59.

In the splash and dash 50m Freestyle races, Anna Hopkin took top spot in a race that saw a tie for second place.

Loughborough National Centre swimmer Hopkin clocked 24.83 with Brompton’s Isabella Hindley and Edinburgh University’s Lucy Hope both touching the wall in 25.47.

Plymouth Leander’s Ben Proud went under 22 seconds in the men’s race as he won in a time of 21.93.

Derventio’s Jacob Whittle was second in 22.55, with Bath National Centre’s Matthew Richards third in a time of 22.59.

Daniel Jervis was a comfortable winner in the Men’s 1500m Freestyle – winning by more than four-and-a-half seconds in a time of 15:16.69.

The Swansea University swimmer finished ahead of Bath National Centre’s Luke Turley (15:21.26) and Millfield’s Joseph Deighan 15:51.36.