British Nationals Day 5 Finals Recap: Carlin and Taylor Write Their Names Into The Record Books

Monday night in Glasgow was one for the record books.  The night was highlighted by a number of exciting finals and two national records (one Welsh and one English) were taken down.

Women’s 800 Freestyle – FINALS

Jazmin Carlin had herself a race Monday night, winning the event by a whopping 14 seconds and setting a new Welsh record in the process with an 8:18.36.  That time puts her atop of the world rankings and sets her up well for having a great summer of swimming after a disappointing long course season last year.  Coming in behind Carlin was Eleanor Faulkner at 8:32.99 and third went to Jessica Thielman with a time of 8:35.47.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke – FINALS

With Ruta Meilutyte scratching finals after posting the world’s top time in a 1:05.63, the field was wide open for England’s Sophie Taylor to take the title.  After already breaking a British national record this week, Taylor was able to cruise to the win in a time of 1:07.08.  Filling the rest of the podium was Corrie Scott in second with a time of 1:08.77 and Molly Renshaw was third in a 1:08.94.

Women’s 200 Butterfly-FINALS

Aimee Willmott surged to a national title in the 200 fly with a powerful backhalf that allowed her to finish three seconds ahead of the field.  She was the only swimmer under 2:10, winning in a time of 2:07.97.  There was a race for the silver where Tilly Gray just touched out Elena Sheridan by .22 seconds.  Gray and Sheridan finished with times of 2:10.59 and 2:1081, respectively.

Men’s 50 Breaststroke-FINALS

This was one of the closest races all night with the top three finishers touching within .22 seconds of each other.  Adam Peaty was finally able to call himself a national champion after finishing second in all of his breaststroke races this week.  He got his hands on the wall first in a time of 27.43 while Ross Murdoch was just behind him with a 27.45.  Andrew Weatheritt grabbed bronze with a time of 27.64.

Women’s 100 Freestyle-FINALS

Two teammates out of Loughboro garnered the 1-2 finish in the women’s 100 free final.  While Francesca Halsall got the gold in a time of 54.12, her training partner Amy Smith added to Loughboro’s medal count, finishing second in a time of 54. 94.  Third went to Rebecca Turner in a time of 55.40.

Men’s 100 Butterfly-FINALS

The men’s races did not disappoint Monday night with another nail-biter in the 100 fly.  James Guy prevailed as the national champ, swimming to the win in a 52.55.  Adam Barrett must have trimmed his fingernails the night before, just getting touched out by .02 and grabbing silver in a 52.57.  Thomas Laxton grabbed the final podium spot, finishing in third in a time of 52.75.

Semi-Finals

• Benjamin Proud looks to cause some uproar in the men’s 50 free final tomorrow, trying to take down Adam Brown.  Proud sits in first with a 22.35 while Brown is second with a 22.62.  Miles Munro secured third with a 22.81.
• Lauren Quigley will be the top seed in the women’s 50 backstroke tomorrow, taking the first spot in a 28.02.  She’ll be challenged by the Loughboro duo of Georgia Davies and Francesca Halsall, who finished 2-3 with times of 28.25 and 28.34, respectively.

The meet finishes up tomorrow with the women’s 400 free and 50 back while the men will swim the 50 free, 200 IM, and 1500 freestyle. Full, live meet results available here.