Jacob Peters aims to get close to Olympic time after landing national title

Poole’s Jacob Peters clocked a new personal best on his way to winning a national title  – and then set his sights on trying to get close to an Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualification time.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist Peters’ time of 51.16 in the Men’s 100m Butterfly was 0.27 seconds quicker than his previous record of 51.43 he set at the Ontario Junior International in 2018.

It put the 19-year-old Poole swimmer 0.60 seconds ahead of the silver medallist, Plymouth Leander’s Edoardo Valsecchi, who had qualified fastest from the heats in a personal best time of 51.79.

Peters, who was also presented with the John G Hatfield Memorial Trophy, said: “That was really good for me – I think I paced it really well.

“I was slightly more relaxed on the first 50m which allowed me to bring it back harder on that second 50m so I’m happy with that.

“I’ve not done so much preparation. I’m going into the Amsterdam meet next week so I was swimming through this meet and going for the long course meet in Amsterdam next week.

“I just want to go there and see roughly where I’m at. Obviously this year is a big season with the Olympics so I’m going to see if I can get a bit closer to that Olympic qualifying time in the 100m Butterfly – I’m hoping I can get as close to that as possible.”

Valsecchi lowered his qualification time by a further 0.03 seconds to touch home in 51.76 which sealed second spot.

City of Manchester Aquatics’ Sam Horrocks swam a season best time of 52.02 to claim the bronze medal.

In the Youth final, City of Sheffield’s Cole Hewitt took the gold in a time of 54.10.

He edged out Plymouth Leander’s Reid Jones (54.41) and his team-mate George Barber (54.48) to top the podium.

Harriet sets new PB

Braunstone’s Harriet West broke her own personal best which had stood for almost three years as she won the Women’s 100m Butterfly.

The 22-year-old was more than a second clear of the field as she touched home in 57.46 – 0.29 seconds faster than her previous best time of 57.75 set at the 2016 National Winter Championships.

West led from start to finish and was the only swimmer to drop under 58 seconds – with Loughborough University’s Charlotte Atkinson the second quickest in 58.76.

Plymouth Leander’s Sophie Freeman won the bronze medal in a time of 58.96 – which was also quick enough to land her the youth gold.

City of Leeds’ Ciara Schlosshan took the youth silver in 59.10, while the bronze went to Harlow’s Georgina Pryor in 59.35.

David goes one better

David Murphy went one better than last year to grab gold in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke.

The Loughborough University swimmer was beaten to top spot by James Wilby in the 2018 final but he made no mistake this time around to top the podium and win the Fred Collier Memorial Trophy.

Murphy’s time of 58.23 was 0.04 slower than 12 months ago but he had to dig deep to take the gold after trailing at the halfway stage to Lawrence Palmer.

The Putteridge swimmer had to settle for the silver medal after touching home in 58.64.

Murphy’s Loughborough University team-mate Archie Goodburn was third after recording 59.24 – a time that was quick enough to win him the youth gold medal.

City of Liverpool’s Rhodri Williams was the youth silver medallist in 1:00.87, while 15-year-old Cameron Williams set a British age group record of 1:01.32 to claim the bronze.