Peaty and Kelly Put Up Impressive Times in Sheffield

The first day of the British University and Colleges Sports Swimming Championships got underway earlier today in Sheffield.

The morning swims brought some excitement as there were a number of guest swimmers involved in the prelims including Jazz Carlin, Elizabeth Simmonds, Christopher Walker-Hebborn, Jemma Lowe and Adam Peaty.

Peaty gave the most impressive performance of the day posting a 26.88 in the 50 breaststroke. Peaty was already ranked number one in the world, but improved on his previous season’s best of 26.95.

Simmonds recorded two top ten times. In the 50 backstroke she posted a 28.55, which ranks seventh in the world. While in the 200 backstroke she swam a 2:10.56, which puts her 10th in the world rankings.

Commonwealth Games silver medalist Aimee Willmott who is representing East London recorded a 4:36.36 in the time final of the women’s 400 IM. Willmott recorded a 4:35.74 earlier in the year and with that time holds down the top spot in the world rankings.

Not wanting to be outdone by the competition’s guests Loughborough’s Rachael Kelly came back in the evening and won the women’s 100 butterfly in a time of 58.25. Kelly’s time puts her in a tie with Inge Dekker for the second spot in the world rankings only one one-hundredth of a second behind Emma McKeon.

Ben Proud of the University of St. Mark and St. John took the 50 freestyle in a time of 22.25. Proud’s time was a season’s best by one one-hundredth of a second and keeps him in the fifth position in the world rankings.

The most exciting events of the evening were the 50s. Sophie Smith of Loughborough took the women’s 50 backstroke in a time of 29.72 just two one-hundredths of a second ahead of Natasha Hofton of Stirling who hit the wall in a time of 29.74. 

Kathryn Johnstone Herriot-Watt won the 50 breaststroke in a time of 31.87 one one-hundredth of a second ahead of Corrie Scott of Edinburgh who finished in a time of 31.88.

Andrew Weatheritt of Loughborough was able to get the best of Stirling’s Ross Murdoch in the 50 breaststroke. Weatheritt won the event in a time of 27.99 while Murdoch collected the silver finishing in a time of 28.04.

Loughborough’s Emma Wilkins took the women’s 50 freestyle in a time of 25.72 six one-hundredths of a second ahead of Bath’s Anna Hopkin who finished in a time of 25.78. Rebecca Turner of Sheff Hallam was not far behind touching in a time of 25.81.

After the first night of competition Loughborough leads the team standings with 211 points followed by Bath who have earned 148 points and Edinburgh who have collected 136 points.

Full results can be found here.