Turley leads home Hatfield one-two in 400m thriller

Luke Turley starred with a four-second 400m Freestyle PB for gold on the opening night of the 2016 British Summer Championships.

The Hatfield swimmer came into the meet with a lifetime best of 4:07.55 from the Team Luton meet in May this year.

But the 16-year old smashed that time in the morning heats, qualifying second fastest in his age group on 4:00.03.

And Turley sailed past the four minute marker for the first time to win the final, splitting 29.54 and 27.82 for his final two 50m on the way to a 3:55.78 effort.

Hatfield teammate and training partner Nathan Hughes followed Turley home in 3:56.00, having lead for the opening 300m.

@summerchamps16 GOLD Luke Turley 400 free SILVER Nathan Hughes 8th Harry Constantine WHAT A RACE?? fantastic swimming boys #proudtobepink

— Hatfield S.C. (@HatfieldSC) July 26, 2016

Turley goes eighth in all-time 16 yrs rankings

It was a remarkable swim from Turley, having finished sixth in his age group 12 months ago.

The youngster’s time puts him eighth in the all-time rankings for British 16 year olds. Hughes’ PB 3:55.12 at this year’s European Junior Championships is fourth fastest while James Guy’s 3:51.84 is the British Age Group record.

City of Sheffield’s Nick Grainger took the senior age group title in 3:50.11, denying Bath University’s Jay Lelliott (3:50.14) in a thrilling final.

Meanwhile Millfield’s Brodie Williams won the 17/18 Yrs gold in a PB 3:54.62. City of Birmingham’s Sam Osborne also set a PB with his 4:03.06 to win the 15 Yrs title.

In the youngest 13/14 Yrs age group, City of Leicester’s William Bell upgraded from his silver last year to win gold in a PB 4:04.74.

• Click here to view results from the 2016 British Summer Championships in Sheffield.