2023 British Championships – Day 1 Finals Live Recap

by Ben Dornan 84

April 04th, 2023 Britain, Europe, International, News

2023 BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Racing is underway in Sheffield as we get into day one finals at the British Swimming Championships. The first day of racing will start off with the women’s 50 breaststroke and the men’s 50 backstroke. The women’s 200 freestyle and the men’s 400 free will follow before we round out the session with the women’s 200 IM and men’s 100 breast.

Women’s 50 Breaststroke

Podium:

  1. Kara Hanlon – 30.50
  2. Sienna Robinbson – 31.46
  3. Angharad Evans – 31.72

Imogen Clark is the British record-holder in this event, having swum a 30.02 last year at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She came into this meet as the top seed and had lane four for the final. Clark stopped the clock at a 30.09 to get within 0.07 seconds of her national record. Clark, however, was disqualified shortly after the race ended, leaving the gold medal for Kara Hanlon.

Luckily for Clark, this isn’t a selection event as it’s not an Olympic event and the 50 breaststroke spots for the World Championships this summer will likely be decided based on the 100 breaststroke results.

Kara Hanlon‘s winning time of 30.50 was a new best time and was also a new Scottish record in the event. The former mark was Corrie Scott‘s 30.64 from the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Hanlon now holds the long course Scottish record in both the 50 and 100 breaststrokes.

Hanlon had a PB of 30.99 heading into this meet, meaning that she has now shaved nearly half a second off her time with this swim. Sienna Robinson got under 32 for the second time today when she swam a 31.46 to take the silver medal and Angharad Evans notched a 31.72 for bronze.

Men’s 50 Backstroke

  • British Record: 24.04 (2009)

Podium:

  1. Oliver Morgan – 24.84
  2. Sebastian Somerset – 25.21
  3. Cameron Booker – 25.23

Oliver Morgan had an electric middle of this race, powering ahead of the rest of the field in this 50-meter race. Morgan was the only man here to crack 25 seconds, winning his first British title ever with a 24.84. Morgan came into the meet with a time of 25.40 from July 2022 and he got down to a 25.07.

Morgan said after the race that he only started really training within the past couple of years when he started University. This performance for Morgan bodes well for his effort in the 100 backstroke tomorrow where he will go up against Britain’s premiere backstrokers to vie for a spot on the World Championships team.

Morgan is entered in the 100 back with a 54.70 as the seventh seed, just under a second slower than top seed Luke Greenbank. Morgan swam against many of the men he’ll face in the 100 backstroke here including silver medalist Sebastian Somerset and bronze medalist Cameron Brooker.

Somerset hit a 25.21 here, racing in Sheffield a few weeks after wrapping up his NCAA season where he represented the Championships title-winning Cal Bears. Somerset out-touched Cameron Brooker by just 0.02 seconds as Brooker came into the wall with a 25.23 for bronze.

Scott Gibson was just a fraction of a second away from medalling in this event, hitting a 25.30 for fourth place and Matthew Ward rounded out the top five with a 25.37.

Women’s 200 Freestyle

  • British Record: 1:55.44 – Joanne Jackson (2009)
  • World Championships Qualifying Standard: 1:55.86

Podium:

  1. Freya Anderson – 1:55.89
  2. Abbie Wood – 1:57.21
  3. Lucy Hope – 1:58.03

After several years of throwing down 1:56s in the 200 freestyle, Freya Anderson managed to get under 1:56.00 for the first time. Anderson posted a new best time of 1:55.89 to earn the gold medal in this event. While she was just 0.55 seconds off the British record in this event, Anderson narrowly missed the World Championships qualifying standard of 1:55.86.

Anderson’s proximity to the standard, however, and the fact that she was under the consideration standard, means that she could still be added to the team in this event. Anderson swam her way to a 12th place finish in this event at Tokyo 2020, posting a 1:57.10 for Britain in the semi-final. She nearly got a medal at World Champs last year, hitting a 1:56.68 in the final for fourth place.

Abbie Wood may be known more for her breaststroke and medley prowess, but she is also a solid 200 freestyler. Wood held a best time of 1:57.48 before this meet and she got under that in the final with a 1:57.21 for silver. Wood might not get an individual spot on the team based on that swim, but it could be enough for a relay spot if Britain qualifies in the 4×200 free.

Lucy Hope has also swum under 1:58 before in the 200 free, having hit a 1:57.65 in 2021. That time was within reach tonight but Hope came a bit short, swimming a 1:58.03 for the bronze medal. Medi Harris slightly beat her best time of 1:58.97 with a 1:58.59 for fourth place.

Men’s 400 Freestyle

  • British Record: 3:43.75 – James Guy (2015)
  • World Championships Qualifying Standard: 3:44.06

Podium:

  1. Luke Turley – 3:48.31
  2. Kieran Bird – 3:48.61
  3. Charlie Hutchinson – 3:52.41

Luke Turley got off to an early lead in the 400 free and quickly put a few meters of distance between himself and the field. Turley held the front position for the entire race but faced a last-minute bid from Kieran Bird who charged on the last 50, vying for the gold.

Bird came up just short of the win and touched 0.30 seconds behind victorious Turley’s 3:48.31 with a 3:48.61. Bird’s morning time of 3:54.26 made him the top seed in the event heading into the final and his lifetime best of 3:46.00 was likely in his sights.

Turley was entered as the top seed heading into the meet, however, with a 3:48.50, which was also his best time from the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Turley swam for England at those Games, placing 5th in the final. Turley got a new PB in the final but was still 4 seconds above the British qualifying standard.

Turley and Bird had a sizeable gap ahead of the field at the end of this race as the next man to finish was Charlie Hutchinson in a 3:52.41. Hutchinson took bronze, shaving a few seconds off the 3:54.53 he came into British Trials with.

William Bell touched in fourth place with a 3:52.98 and Tyler Melbourne-Smith was fifth in a 3:53.19.

Women’s 400 IM

  • British Record: 4:31.33 – Hannah Miley (2009)
  • World Championships Qualifying Standard: 4:36.00

Podium:

  1. Freya Colbert – 4:35.50
  2. Katie Shanahan – 4:36.74
  3. Leah Schlosshan – 4:46.40

At the halfway mark, Katie Shanahan held a narrow lead over Freya Colbert, splitting a 2:11.31 to Colbert’s 2:12.28. They continued to race each other on the breaststroke leg and Colbert took over the lead by the 250. Colbert touched in a 3:31.15 and Shanahan was at a 3:32.12.

Colbert managed to pull off the win in the end and extended her lead on the final 100, ending 1 with a 4:35.50 for the gold. Colbert’s time got her under the World Championships qualifying cut of 4:36.00. That’s a huge best time for Colbert who came into the British Championships with a 4:39.80 from her swim at the Commonwealth Games.

Colbert is now the British champion and she’s the first person to swim faster than the selection standard in any event at this meet. Katie Shanahan touched with a 4:36.74 to miss the standard and take the silver medal. Shanahan also chopped some time off her PB here (4:39.37), which came from the Commonwealth Games as well.

Shanahan will need to rely on the secondary standards in order to get added to the World Championships roster in this event.

The leading duo beat the rest of the field by roughly 10 seconds as Leah Schlosshan came into the wall with a 4:46.40 for bronze and Amber Keegan hit a 4:46.60 for fourth.

Men’s 100 Breaststroke

  • British Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty (2017)
  • World Championships Qualifying Standard: 58.93

Podium:

  1. James Wilby – 59.94
  2. Gregory Butler – 1:00.03
  3. Archie Goodburn – 1:00.20

The world record holder and two-time Olympic champion in this event, Adam Peaty, pulled out of this meet last week and won’t attempt to race at World Championships this summer. In his absence, James Wilby swam to victory in the 100 breaststroke. Wilby threw down a 59.94 to dip under one minute and claim the gold medal.

Wilby has a best time of 58.46 and came fourth last summer at the World Championships with a 58.93 last summer. He wasn’t able to reach the 59-second range tonight, however, and missed the World Championships cut of 58.93. As is the case with most other champions tonight, Wilby will need to wait for confirmation that this swim is fast enough to get nominated.

Wilby and Peaty have been dominant forces in this event over the past few years, but our other medalists here seem to be a part of the up-and-coming generation. Gregory Butler took the silver medal with a 1:00.03 and Archie Goodburn was right behind him with a 1:00.20 for bronze.

Butler swam a time of 1:00.50 during the heats and Goodburn was even faster with his 1:00.35 for top seed out of prelims. They both improved upon their times in the final, each nearly cracking 1:00 for the first time. Butler’s 1:00.03 in the final was just 0.01 seconds quicker than his entry time and PB of 1:00.03 from this meet last year.

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Jimmyswim
11 months ago

Surely Shanahan is definitely on the team? Already got one CT, strong chance to meet the actual qualifying time in 200 back and 200IM, and if not she should hit the CTs

commonwombat
Reply to  Jimmyswim
11 months ago

Given her PBs in both events are 2.09.22 & 2.11.84; I think both QTs are a very significant “reach”. CTs themselves will require PBs in the order of 1sec but could well be “in play”.

WILL agree that she should be on the plane in any case on the grounds of this 400IM.

AquaDuck
Reply to  commonwombat
11 months ago

She swam 2’08.0 + 2’11.6 this season already.

commonwombat
Reply to  AquaDuck
11 months ago

Thanks, seemed to recall she swam a decent 200 back earlier but didn’t show on FINA. If that’s the case, then the 200 back CT should be OK and the QT “in play”. Still think the 200IM QT is ‘an ask’ but CT is possible.

AquaDuck
Reply to  commonwombat
11 months ago

Interested to see what happens in these events. Good drop in 400, missed 100Bk this Am. Hopefully strategic move and not physical!

Scuncan Dott v2
Reply to  AquaDuck
11 months ago

Good decision if strategical, she isn’t getting the CT or beating Harris, Dawson or Cox in the 100 Back imo.

Sawdust
11 months ago

Good first night for british swimming, although the women clearly outperformed the men. Anderson, Colbert and Shanahan are all pretty young and set a PB today. I think all of them could make the final at worlds this year. On the men’s side the absence of Peaty will probably cause a lot of trouble for their medley relay, i don’t really see them beating the US/Italy/Australia at worlds.

Not sure if anyone other than Harris (women’s 100 back) will seriously be able to attack the standard tomorrow. I think in women’s 200 breast, men’s 100 back and men’s 200 fly it would be rather surprising if anyone would get the standard, but maybe Blocksidge/Colbert can drop a lot of… Read more »

Dee
Reply to  Sawdust
11 months ago

Blocksidge’s 400IM PB was 4.56 before today. I wouldn’t want to anticipate too much from her too soon – Clearly a huge talent with precocious natural feel for the water, but as you’d expect at 13 she was by far the most raw swimmer in the pool today in terms of her skills – She’ll be doing very well to replicate her exisiting PBs imo. Worth remembering she has already improved her 1500 PB by 40s and her 800 by 20s this year and it’s only April – She can’t keep taking those chunks off.

Last edited 11 months ago by Dee
artm
11 months ago

Might be looking ahead too much but Shanahan, Colbert and Anderson all went under respective Olympic qualifying times – does that mean GB have secured berths in those events for Paris?

Admin
Reply to  artm
11 months ago

From the IOC’s perspective they have. GB will have their own standards/process though, and history indicates it will be a faster set of standards/more limited qualifying period than that offered by the IOC.

Pullbuoy
Reply to  Braden Keith
11 months ago

At the current rate of progression I predict the automatic GB time will probably be the bronze medal winning time win Fukuoka.

(I’m only half joking)

Last edited 11 months ago by Pullbuoy
Jimmyswim
Reply to  Pullbuoy
11 months ago

UK announces new standards for women in Tokyo: In order to qualify for any event you need to beat Summer McIntosh’s PB

Dee
11 months ago

After all the debate regarding the state of British women’s swimming in the context of likelihood of qualifying, it’s quite funny that the only three names to hit QTs (1) or CTs (2) on night 1 were women.

Titobiloluwa
11 months ago

Amelie Blocksidge lowers her PB from this morning with a 4.53.53 swim

Scuncan Dott v2
Reply to  Titobiloluwa
11 months ago

Just missing the european junior standard

DK99
Reply to  Scuncan Dott v2
11 months ago

She’ll make it in a few other events and then she’ll be given the choice if she wants to swim it

Scuncan Dott v2
Reply to  DK99
11 months ago

3 juniors hit the standard during the finals session – Leah Schlosshan, Phoebe Cooper and Evie Dilley. Very likely that at least 2 of those 3 will make the European Junior team so I don’t think Amelie will get the opportunity to swim the 4IM.

DK99
Reply to  Scuncan Dott v2
11 months ago

4 swimmers are allowed to enter and then 2 progress to the finals I believe so its a possibility

Scuncan Dott v2
Reply to  DK99
11 months ago

Oh didn’t know that, thanks. Amelie probably will get an opportunity then.

Demarrit Steenbergen
11 months ago

I can’t be the only one who hates these second standards that UK imposes

swimmerfromjapananduk
Reply to  Demarrit Steenbergen
11 months ago

I have to agree to be honest. What is the point of setting a cut off time, if you’re also going to set a consideration time. Just get rid of the consideration time, or make the cut off a little slower.

torchbearer
Reply to  Demarrit Steenbergen
11 months ago

Its crazy- a year before the Olympics surely you want to expose your team to as much International competition as possible? If you qualify you should go.

Paul
11 months ago

Surely Wilby isn’t tapered, think he went basically the same time a month ago in Switzerland. Anyway I don’t think British mens breastroke is in a good place right now which could have a big impact for the relays in Paris.

Titobiloluwa
Reply to  Paul
11 months ago

Why wouldn’t he be tapered?

Paul
Reply to  Titobiloluwa
11 months ago

I’m just saying it’s a surprisingly slow time if that’s the case, as he went virtually the same time a month ago in training block out in Switzerland. Maybe he wouldn’t see the point in tapering without Adam being there and being a step above every other domestic breastroker (whilst also knowing that the qualification times are unrealistic). If he was tapered then why do you think his time wasn’t great today?

Dee
11 months ago

Post Peaty/Wilby breaststroke era has a lot of work to do

Last edited 11 months ago by Dee
Titobiloluwa
Reply to  Dee
11 months ago

Archie Goodburn but still….

AquaDuck
Reply to  Titobiloluwa
11 months ago

Who was beaten by Greg Butler

Kat
Reply to  AquaDuck
11 months ago

I think you’ve got to look at the progression of Goodburn, was no where near his potential until moving back to Edinburgh. Huge drops from the 1.04s a few years ago. Give the youngsters time and experience.

AquaDuck
Reply to  Kat
11 months ago

He is 22 this year, and went 1’01.01 in 2019(4yrs ago) at 17/18 when he trained at Warrender Baths.

That’s an improvement of 0.2sec per year… Hopefully he can get continue to improve towards World Class level, but in order to get there even by LA, that perhaps has to accelerate.

Last edited 11 months ago by AquaDuck
Kat
Reply to  AquaDuck
11 months ago

I know, hence me writing ‘moved back to Edinburgh’. He had no progress during his time away at Loughborough. Hope for his sake the confidence he used to swim with is back and can keep moving forward!

AquaDuck
Reply to  Kat
11 months ago

He did improve his 100Butterfly best time in that time period according to the rankings. Not sure what your issue is with Loughborough?

Hopefully he can move forward as you say, and break into the ‘GB Top 10’ all time rankings for the 100Br.

Scuncan Dott v2
Reply to  AquaDuck
11 months ago

She was talking about Archie’s Breaststroke and I don’t she was taking a jab at Loughborough, just saying that the environment didn’t work for Archie.

Last edited 11 months ago by Scuncan Dott v2