Andrew Willis came out on top in one of the toughest races of the British Swimming Championships so far in Glasgow to lead the winners on the fourth night.
In a stacked field in the Men’s 200m Breaststroke final, it was Willis that stood up and swam to a time of 2:08.08 minutes, which is under the consideration time for the Olympic Games this summer.
In a world class race Willis was pitted against world bronze medallist over 100m Ross Murdoch (University of Stirling) and triple world champion Adam Peaty (City of Derby).
Peaty went out hard from the start and turned first but National Centre, Bath swimmer Willis sat on his shoulder and at the halfway point made his move for the lead.
Willis touched in gold medal place to claim the British title ahead of University of Stirling’s Craig Benson.
“It means so much to me, in that field, it is certainly a positive,” Willis said. “I don’t know what to think really. I wanted it, I knew I had to stick to my own plan so I’m dead happy.
“I wouldn’t count anyone out. I really like Craig, we’ve always got on and I knew he was having a great year. There were definitely a few up the front there so you just can’t take anything for granted.
“It’s great to beat those guys tonight, I thought Ross might be a bit closer near the end but it is so hard.
“It’s such a great feeling and that is only going to help us, especially as a nation to progress at the big meets as well.”
World champion James Guy won his second title of the week with gold in the 100m Butterfly.
The Millfield swimmer produced a strong race to take the victory on the touch for his second gold to add to the title he won in the 400m Freestyle.
“A win is a win, I want to be faster than that but I’ll take it,” Guy said. “It is the medley relay spot and obviously last year we came fourth [at worlds] so there are some tweaks we can make to that team so hopefully we can get a medal in Rio, which would be quite nice.
“The 400m on the first day I was very, very nervous and being sick before the race and after but making the team took the pressure off that event.
“On the second day I just felt so much more relaxed and into the meet, on the first day I was a bit all over the place but today I was better.”
Siobhan-Marie O’Connor was the victor in the 100m Freestyle after coming from behind to take the gold medal.
The National Centre, Bath swimmer retained her title as she reached for the wall in first place.
“The 200m medley is a big one for me tomorrow,” O’Connor said. “I’m feeling pretty good, it was just nice to get going today.
“I’ve been watching the racing and I’ve enjoyed cheering everyone on so it was good for me to be the one racing today. I’m happy with that 100m free and it’s great to see what Andrew just did, that was amazing.”
Lizzie Simmonds upgraded silver to gold as she claimed the British title in the Women’s 200m Backstroke final after a dominant second half to the race.
The National Centre, Bath swimmer got the better of Jessica Fullalove (City of Manchester Aquatics) over the last 100m to add gold to her 100m silver.
“I am pleased with that swim, it was a real solid performance from me. I stuck to my race plan and it was a definite step in the right direction from the 100m earlier in the week,” said Simmonds.
“There is a lot of pressure at this event, it is a different atmosphere. I would have liked to have gone a bit quicker but I am pleased with the performance.”
City of Birmingham’s Luke Davies swam an excellent race in the Target Tokyo final of the 200m Breaststroke. He beat Charlie Attwood (Bath University) and Edward Baxter (Cockermouth).
The 200m Breaststroke Junior final was taken by Gordon Clough (Warrender Baths) after overtaking Yaron Gerber (Barnet Copthall) in the final 50m of the race. Callum Smart (City of Oxford) took third place.
Lucy Hope (Edinburgh University) was victorious in the Target Tokyo final of the 100m Freestyle with Kathryn Greenslade (Preston) and Maya Westlake (City of Sheffield) taking second and third respectively.
The Junior final of the 100m Freestyle was won by Freya Anderson (Ellesmere College) with Emily Large (Newcastle) and Anna Fleming (City of Glasgow) following closely behind.
Double European Games champion Luke Greenbank (Cockermouth) reached the wall first in the Target Tokyo final of the 100m Butterfly. Edinburgh University’s Craig Bowman and Adam Taylor (City of Sunderland) took second and third place respectively.
Plymouth Leander’s Sam Dailley took gold in the Junior final of the 100m Butterfly followed by Jacob Peters (Poole) and Jamie Ingram (Derventio).
There was a Loughborough University one-two in the Women’s Target Tokyo 200m Backstroke final as Charlotte Evans took gold and clubmate Emma Day finished second.
Kathleen Dawson (Warrington Warriors) placed third while in the Women’s Junior 200m Backstroke final Sophie Hobbah took top honours.
Hobbah dominated through the race for victory but the battle for second was far closer with Isabel Jones (Millfield) pipping Eleanor Baldwn (City of Derby.