James Wilby sets new personal best to reach National Winter Championships final

James Wilby put himself in contention for a second Swim England National Winter Championships individual gold medal as he set a new personal best in the 100m Breaststroke heats.

Wilby, who won gold in the 50m Breaststroke on day one, was the fastest qualifier as he clocked 57.81 at Ponds Forge.

The Loughborough University swimmer shaved 0.26 seconds off his previous quickest time of 58.07 he set at the BUCS Short Course Swimming Championships in Sheffield last month.

City of Oxford’s David Murphy was the second fastest qualifier in 59.01, 1.20 seconds behind Wilby, while Loughborough University’s Edward Baxter was third quickest in 59.48.

Putteridge’s Lawrence Palmer was the only other man to finish inside a minute as he clocked 59.83 to take fourth spot.

Also reaching the A final were City of Sheffield’s Oliver Crosby (1:00.06), City of Bristol’s Marcus Gardiner (1:00.33), City of Oxford’s Connor Bryan (1:00.68), Plymouth Leander’s Adam Chillingworth (1:00.81), City of Oxford’s T Mackay-Champion (1:01.17) and Loughborough University’s David Bloomfield (1:01.42).

PB for Anna in 50m Freestyle

Anna Hopkin set a short course personal best as she reached the 50m Freestyle A Final.

The 22-year-old Ealing swimmer clocked an impressive 24.13 to beat High Performance Centre Ontario’s Kayla Sanchez, who set a new world junior record in the 100m Freestyle race on day one, as quickest qualifier.

Hopkin knocked 0.24 seconds off her previous best of 24.37 that she set at the National Winter Championships in 2016.

Sanchez was 0.07 seconds behind Hopkin in 24.20 to set up a mouth-watering final.

The Loughborough University duo of Emily Barclay (24.72) and Emily Crane (25.31) were third and fourth fastest respectively, while City of Sheffield’s Kate Clifton was fifth in 25.34.

Also qualifying for the A Final were Thanet Swim’s Katie Latham (25.40), High Performance Centre Ontario’s Hanna Henderson (25.42), Mount Kelly’s Macy Lawrence (25.71), City of Derby’s Sophie Yendell (25.77) and Hamilton UAE’s Emily Peck (25.82).

Fullalove quickest qualifier in 200m Backstroke

Bath University’s Jessica Fullalove was the quickest qualifier in the Women’s 200m Backstroke.

The 22-year-old topped the field with a time of 2:06.90, 1.89 seconds ahead of Loughborough University’s Charlotte Evans who clocked 2:08.79.

Nova Centurion’s Courtney Price was 0.15 seconds adrift of Evans in 2:08.94, touching home just in front of City of Manchester Aquatics’ Chloe Golding who recorded a time of 2:08.98.

High Performance Centre Ontario’s Hanna Henderson was fifth fastest in 2:09.90.

Millfield’s Rachel Anderson (2:10.01), Plymouth Leander’s Honey Osrin (2:10.63), Loughborough University’s Candice Hall (2:10.79), Thanet Swim’s Rachel Anderson (2:11.47) and 13-year-old Caitlin Ebbage (2:12.07), Tonbridge, completed the final line-up.

Max dominates 200m Individual Medley heats

Max Litchfield was more than two seconds clear at the top of the A Final qualifiers for the 200m Individual Medley.

Dearne Valley’s Litchfield, who won gold in the 400m Freestyle on day one of the competition, clocked 1:56.09.

The 23-year-old was 2.59 seconds clear of Bath University’s Thomas Dean (1:58.58) and 3.28 ahead of his brother, Joe, who clocked 1:59.37.

High Performance Centre Ontario’s Mack Darragh was fourth quickest in 1:59.73, followed by Bath University’s Jacob Greenow in 1:59.77

Also reaching the A Final were the Loughborough University duo of James McFadzen (1:59.97) and James Brown (2:00.36), Hatfield’s Nathan Hughes (2:00.54), City of Manchester Aquatics’ Thomas Paine (2:01.64) and Loughborough University’s Nathan Wells (2:02.20).