Abbie Wood secured her second title in as many days and James Guy flew to an impressive butterfly victory as the second night of finals unfolded at the British Swimming Championships.
Following up a breathless battle with Freya Anderson to claim Women's 200m Freestyle victory on night one, Loughborough National Centre athlete Wood had to put together a very different race in the 200m Breaststroke, leading from the front within the opening 50m and controlling her pace from there to close out a comfortable gold-medal display.
Wood’s teammate Lily Booker was the silver medallist and Edinburgh University’s Kara Hanlon followed closely in third.
European gold medallist Wood - who is coached by David Hemmings in Loughborough - said: “I definitely can't be too annoyed, I'm just trying to get my race process when I'm out on my own without Molly [Renshaw] pushing me on like last year. So it's just trying to figure out my own race plan and keep building from there for each competition for the rest of the season.
“I think I can critique myself far too much in the race! I feel like when I'm in a race like the 200m Free last night, I get carried away with the race and that's when I find my best flow. When I'm on my own, I definitely critique every single stroke and probably tear myself apart a bit. It's just part of learning, especially in this event.
“I just have to get used to a busy programme too. The body is hurting a bit, but I've got a day off tomorrow, so that's nice!”
Meanwhile, two-time Olympic champion James Guy dominated the Men's 200m Butterfly final as he powered home to be crowned British champion.
The 26-year-old opened up a strong lead at the halfway mark and showed great stamina as he continued to pull away from the remainder of the field. Guy finished exactly a second ahead of Loughborough University’s Mason Wilby, who touched in second place, with City of Sheffield’s Jay Lelliott claiming the bronze medal.
And after a successful Olympic Games last summer, the Bath National Centre swimmer is already talking about wanting more in the year and years ahead as he sets his sights firmly on Paris 2024.
Guy said: “For where I am right now after a big break after Tokyo, this cycle from January to April has been condensed a bit, I got COVID in January so wasn't really back until mid-January. Time was running out for trials. So to go that time there after eight weeks work, that's pretty impressive, it's really good and hopefully we can move it on in the summer.
“You have to know where you're at at times and be realistic. We all know Olympic year was a massive year and that we had a bit of time off after the Games. There's no point putting too much pressure on yourself. Considering I came back mid-January, that wasn't bad going tonight, it's not a bad start.
“The way I swam things there was really, really good - having a crowd again, my mum and dad seeing me swim again, my brother is coming to coach tomorrow - having my younger bro on poolside will be quite cool - times have changed, it's great.
“What I've realised is that for every swimmer, Olympic year is always the biggest year, and it's all about Paris in two years’ time. Adam Peaty will say the same thing. With what I've achieved now, I could quite happily walk away from the sport with all that - but I want more than that. Going to Paris will be really exciting and it's one more push to achieve that.”
In the back-to-back 100m Backstroke finals, Medi Harris of Swansea University justified her centre-lane berth with a brilliant swim to claim her maiden senior British title in the women's event.
Harris, fastest in the morning heats, got to the turn first and built from there, pushing to the wall to go inside a minute - narrowly outside the World Championship consideration mark - and secure top spot. Loughborough University's Lauren Cox claimed silver, with Kathleen Dawson (University of Stirling) taking bronze as she continues to build back after a stunning 2021 that brought her an Olympic gold medal and a new European record.
Speaking about her victory and the inspirational field around her in the final, Harris said: "It's my first senior British title. I was looking for a better time, but considering how good the girls are in that event, I'm really pleased with that. Competing in that field, it's amazing. Knowing what they've done, they've set an example for all girls in the world over 100m and 200m Back, it's so good. I couldn't ask for kinder women to race against either, they're so nice.
“Our coaches have worked us really hard and we've been putting in the hard work. We work well as a team as well, we pick each other up when we're down or motivate each other when we need it. We are a really good team.”
Luke Greenbank produced an outside smoker from lane eight to win the men's event. With a notable build from his heats swim, 200m Olympic and World Championship medallist Greenbank put together a late surge that saw him finish on top of the podium.
Bath National Centre swimmers Brodie Williams and Jonathon Adam finished in second and third place respectively.
On the win, Greenbank said: “I was disappointed this morning, so I knew I could improve tonight and it was great to come away with the win.
“It feels in a good place. Training has been all over the place this year, especially with ISL at start of year. We're trying to get a good block in and then the main focus is looking towards the summer. We can use this as a good springboard into Worlds, Commonwealth Games and that busy summer.
“It's the first time my mum and dad have been able to come and watch me in two years. It's great to have them here, the full stands help with the atmosphere and to help people get the best out of themselves.”
The irrepressible Adam Peaty was named British champion in the 50m Breaststroke, a night on from his eye-catching 100m Breaststroke final display, while fellow Loughborough National Centre man James Wilby set a pacey new personal best to take second. Craig Benson (City of Glasgow) was third.
Peaty said: "It's a funny one, because I thought it was going to be faster, it felt like a 26.7. I can count on one hand the amount of times I've done a 50m so far this season, so I don't want to be too harsh on myself.
“The speed is always going to be the thing that suffers, you'll see that for many people who come off the Olympics, the speed is just a little bit harder to get to.
“This meet is more of a marker for me, trying to adapt my training now to what I need to do in June, July, August, that's what it's all about. I've got the value in knowing what I need to do now, I know how it feels. You can do as much as you want in training, but that's not really where it is all at.
“From those last two races today, I've got a marker now, I know where I am. The scoreboard never lies, it's the truth, it doesn't matter whether you are rested, tapered, it doesn't matter - I know where I am at now. Mel and I have some good data, what we are off the start, what my stroke is like, the last 20m. That's invaluable to us because we haven't raced much this season, we haven't got the usual data so it's good for us to see where we need to push, where we need to get more from that area. But it's looking good.”
Harriet Jones added to the strong showing by Welsh swimmers so far this meet as she won the Women's 50m Butterfly. The Tokyo 2020 Olympian - who will contest the 100m Butterfly later in the meet - backed up a promising heats display with another punchy 50m of butterfly sprinting, holding off Derventio duo Sophie Yendell and Georgina Pryor in second and third respectively.
“The 50m is always a bit of fun, and then technically I want to go out a similar time, maybe just a tiny bit slower than what I've done there (in the 100m)," said Jones.
“The work there is about the front-end speed, so the 50m just builds into the 100m. We've had a good training block, everything seems to be going well, so we'll see what the 100m brings on Sunday!”
Wednesday's finals began with the fastest heat in the Women's 800m Freestyle, as Leah Crisp took the crown.
The Bath National Centre swimmer finished almost four seconds ahead of her nearest rivals. Barnet’s Fleur Lewis swam a strong race to take second place with City of Sheffield’s Ashleigh Baillie finishing inside the European Junior consideration time as she touched the wall in third.
Among a host of standout junior swims across the day, Elliott Woodburn (Millfield) broke a British age-group record in the Men's 50m Breaststroke.
For the full results and start lists from every day of the 2022 British Swimming Championships, click here.
