Impressive Greenbank rewrites the record books as he smashes 10-year British best

Luke Greenbank smashed a 10-year record as he sent a message of intent to the rest of the world with a phenomenal performance at the British Swimming Invitation Meet.

After setting a new personal best of 1:55.69 in Men’s 200m Backstroke heats, the Cockermouth swimmer broke James Goddard’s long-standing British best in the day one finals at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.

The 24-year-old, who has already been selected for the rearranged Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, finished in 1:55.34 to shave 0.24 seconds off Goddard’s record of 1:55.58 that was set as he stormed to gold in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Greenbank was a huge 5.30 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Loughborough University’s Elliott Clogg, who clocked 2:00.64.

Bath University’s Jacob Greenow was 6.70 seconds adrift of the impressive Greenbank as he finished in 2:02.04.

After swimming the fastest 200m Backstroke time in the word this year, a delighted Greenbank said: “I’m over the moon with that!

“I came into this meet wanting to build on the last one and to do that in the heats gave me great confidence for the final.

“I’ve had my eyes on this one for a while, but I didn’t think I’d break it in-season, I thought it’d be at trials where I could have a go at it.

“It feels absolutely amazing, and obviously it was James Goddard’s record before this and as a kid I watched him swim at an international level, so was he kind of an idol of mine, so to get that record is amazing.”

Molly so close

Molly Renshaw was only seven-tenths outside a new British record in the Women’s 200m Breaststroke.

Representing Ripley at this meet, Renshaw touched home in 2:22.78 – 0.70 adrift of Jocelyn Ulyett’s record of 2:22.08, which has stood since April 2017.

Loughborough University’s Ulyett was second behind Renshaw in 2:26.19, with City of Manchester Aquatics’ Katie Matts third in 2:26.70.

Normal service from Ben and Adam

Plymouth Leander’s Ben Proud marked his return to competitive action with a quick time of 22.15 in the Men’s 50m Freestyle final.

It was 0.66 clear of Bath University’s Matthew Richards’ 22.81, while Edinburgh University’s David Cambridge was third in 22.99.

Adam Peaty continued his dominance of the Men’s 100m Breaststroke as he cruised to victory ahead of James Wilby.

Peaty, representing his home club of City of Derby, finished in 58.52 – the fastest 100m Breaststroke long course time in the past 12 months – with Loughborough University’s James Wilby 0.79 seconds behind in 59.31.

University of Stirling’s Ross Murdoch was third in 1:01.38.

Peaty said: “I think off the last month I executed the race plan really well, but it was a hard race in terms of getting up for it.

“I think the biggest challenge now as athletes is getting yourself into that zone where you can perform when there’s an empty crowd and you can’t feel the awe around the place.

“I did what I could; you know it’s still extremely fast – that would probably medal at worlds – so I’m in a very good place.”

James and Holly cruise to wins

James Guy was more than a second clear of the field as he took the Men’s 100m Butterfly.

His time of 51.71 was 1.02 ahead of his Bath Unversity team-mate Jacob Peters, who recorded 52.72, while Loughborough University’s Joe Litchfield set a new personal best as he finished third in 52.86.

Holly Hibbott cruised to victory by an impressive 4.29 seconds in the Women’s 400m Freestyle.

The Bath University 22-year-old put on a very dominant display as she finished in 4:12.26 – leading from start to finish.

Hibbott’s Bath team-mate Leah Crisp was took second spot in 4:16.55, with Nova Centurion’s Freya Colbert third in a time of 4:17.73.

Zara Mulloolly triumphed on multi-classification points in the Women’s MC 400m Freestyle.

The S10 Northampton Swimming Club 19-year-old finished in a time of 4:41.56 to earn 874 points.

That put her eight clear of Camden Swiss’s Ellie Simmonds, who clocked 5:28.65 for 866 points and second spot – one clear of her fellow S6 swimmer Maisie Summers-Newton (Northampton) who finished third on 865 for her time of 5:28.82.

Anna dashes Lucy’s Hope

Ealing’s Anna Hopkin was only 0.04 seconds in front of Edinburgh University’s Lucy Hope in the Women’s 50m Freestyle.

Only 0.20 seconds separated the top three with Hopkin home first in 25.46, Hope second in 25.50 and Bromley’s Evelyn Davis third in a new personal best of 5.66.

City of Manchester Aquatic’s Michael Jones was victorious in the Men’s MC 400m Freestyle after picking up 849 points.

The S7 swimmer finished in 4:48.88 which earned him 41 more points than Borough of Kirklees’s S9 swimmer Jonathan Booth, who finished with 808 points for his time of 4:28.29

Torfaen’s Dylan Broom (S14) was third with 790 points after touching home in 4:26.61.

Laura Stephens edged out Emily Large to win the Women’s 200m Butterfly.

Plymouth Leander’s Stephens’ winning time of 2:08.58 was was 0.96 seconds clear of Bath University’s Large, 2:09.54, with University of Stirling’s Keanna Macinnes third in 2:09.88.

Swansea University’s Daniel Jervis was the only competitor to go under 3:50 in the Men’s 400m Freestyle.

He clocked 3:49.74 to finish comfortably clear of the Bath University duo of Luke Turley (3:52.21) and Tom Dean (3:54.27), who were second and third respectively.

So near for Ellie

Ellie Challis was just outside the British record she set in the Women’s MC 50m Backstroke final at the Manchester International Swim Meet last month.

The S3 Clacton Swimming Club 17-year-old was swimming on her own and was only 1.05 seconds outside her own British best of 55.61 as she touched home in 56.66 for 626 points.

Mulloolly claimed a second win of the night in the Women’s MC 50m Freestyle after clocking 29.01 for 839 points.

Hatfield’s S14 swimmer Louise Fiddes was second with 809 points for her time of 28.27, with university of Stirling’s S13 swimmer Abby Kane earning 690 points and third spot for her time of 30.17.

Jordan Catchpole was narrowly outside his British record in the Men’s MC 50m Freestyle.

The Team Waveney S14 swimmer finished in 25.03 for 820 points – only 0.30 seconds outside his British best of 24.73 he set at last month’s Manchester International Swim Meet.

University of Stirling’s Kathleen Dawson set a new personal best of 27.63 in the Women’s 50m Backstroke final.

She was 0.43 ahead of Swansea University’s Georgia Davies (28.06), with University of Stirling’s Cassie Wild third in 28.37.