Harris and Dawson set the pace in Wednesday heats

6 Apr 2022

Medi Harris and Kathleen Dawson are set to line up in the centre lanes for the Women's 100m Backstroke final as Wednesday's morning heats threw up some exciting swimming on day two of the British Swimming Championships at Ponds Forge.

Swansea University athlete Harris and Dawson of the University of Stirling - the European record holder over two lengths of backstroke - both won out in their respective heats, swimming from the front to put themselves in good stead for the gold medal race later in the day. 

The men's heats, meanwhile, were led by Brodie Williams (Bath National Centre) ahead of the afternoon heats session - the Olympian looking solid throughout his swim.

Fresh from becoming British champion in the Women's 200m Freestyle on Tuesday night, Abbie Wood produced a comfortable morning swim to lead the way in the Women's 200m Breaststroke, qualifying top by some distance as her busy programme continues. 

The David Hemmings-coached competitor will be favourite ahead of Loughborough National Centre training partner Lily Booker and Edinburgh University's Kara Hanlon, who were second and third-fastest respectively.

Double Olympic champion James Guy got his British Championships underway in the Men's 200m Butterfly, pacing himself into a good lane for the final - but it was Loughborough University's Mason Wilby who went fastest, ahead of home favourite Jay Lelliott (City of Sheffield) and Guy. 

The shortest events got the heats underway, as on Tuesday, with Adam Peaty picking up from a characteristically dominant 100m Breaststroke victory the night before to sprint himself to the fastest time in the Men's 50m Breaststroke heats. Peaty will again be looking to move things on in the final, ahead of Craig Benson (City of Glasgow) and Ross Murdoch (University of Stirling). 

City of Cardiff athlete Harriet Jones, meanwhile, put down a marker with a fine effort in the Women's 50m Butterfly, qualifying fastest by a good distance over a single length. Derventio duo Georgina Pryor and Sophie Yendell rounded out the top three from the morning heats.

Aimee Hood from the City of Birmingham is top of the Women's 800m Freestyle standings ahead of the evening's fastest heat.

The afternoon's heats start at 1pm, with the second session of finals diving into action from 6pm.

For the full results from across the meet, click here