Simmonds Posts World’s Number One Time in the 200 Backstroke

On the final night of the Edinburgh International Elizabeth Simmonds posted the world’s fastest time in the 200 backstroke. Simmonds took the event in a time of 2:08.32.

She bettered the 2:08.84 which was posted by Fu Yuanhui in January at the BHP Billiton Super Series.

This is the fastest time that Simmonds has recorded since she swam a 2:07.26 in the Olympic final. Her lifetime best is a 2:06.79 which she swam in 2010.

Jessica Fullalove finished second in a time of 2:10.92 which ranks 12th in the world.

American Tom Shields took the men’s 100 butterfly in a time of 52.15 which puts him third in the world rankings. Only Jack Conger (51.64) and Mehdy Metella (52.13) have been faster.

At the halfway mark of the men’s 200 breaststroke Andrew Willis had more than a second lead over Adam Peaty. It was Peaty who had the better second half making up a lot of ground on Willis, especially in the last 50 meters where he split a time of 32.98.

In the end Willis took the event in a time of 2:12.22 while Peaty posted a time of 2:12.86.

• Willis – 30.14/1:03.90 (33.76)/1:38.47 (34.57)/2:12.22 (33.75)
• Peaty – 30.60/1:05.05 (34.45)/1:39.88 (34.83)/2:12.86 (32.98)

Willis’ time ties the time Peaty put up at the Flanders Speedo Cup and ranks eighth in the world.

Jazz Carlin had a great second half to overtake Siobhan-Marie O’Connor for the 200 freestyle title. O’Connor took the first 100 out in a time of 57.50 while Carlin turned in a time of 57.50. The second half belonged to Carlin who won the event in a time of 1:58.04. O’Connor touched in a time of 1:58.42.

Olivia White and Molly Renshaw battled for the gold in the 200 breaststroke with White finishing eight one-hundredths of a second ahead of Renshaw. White recorded a time of 2:26.71 while Renshaw finished in a time of 2:26.79.

Fran Halsall took the women’s 100 freestyle in a time of 54.24 followed by Natalie Coughlin who posted a time of 54.77.

Lewis Coleman took the men’s 200 IM in a time of 2:01.93.