Scott secures stunning new British record

The Sheffield crowd got behind six-time Olympic medallist Scott as he produced a superb Men’s 400m Individual Medley, building an early advantage across the opening strokes and then bringing it home on his favourite freestyle leg, stopping the clock at an eye-catching 4:09.18.

His time lowered the British record – held by Max Litchfield since the 2017 World Championships - by almost half a second. It would also have secured Scott gold in the event at last summer’s Olympic Games.

Bath National Centre’s Brodie Williams held on to take the second spot on the podium, followed by Bath University’s Jacob Greenow in third.

On yet another record-breaking performance, Scott said: “I'm still learning the event a lot, but I'm absolutely delighted with that time. I love watching Max do that every year, the times he's able to do consistently each year, around that 4:10 barrier, it's incredible.

“I’m quite happy with that swim, I'll look back and I'm sure there are many areas for me to improve on - but I'm really happy with that.”

Scott also holds the British records in the 100m Freestyle and the 200m Individual Medley. So how did he feel about adding to that tally?

“That's because people keep taking them off me! I have to hold my 100m Freestyle status tonight,” he added, shortly ahead of that final.

“That was an added incentive of me getting the 400m IM because I might get one taken off me tonight. I guess that's why they are there, it's good to see them keep going in different events all the time. I guess it shows the depth we have now in Britain, that there are so many people close to all the British records.”

And Scott’s 100m Freestyle record was indeed challenged in the evening’s final by Winchester swimmer Burras.

In a stacked field, new British champion Burras stood out as he blasted down the opening 50m and then held on in the final strokes to claim gold ahead of Tom Dean, in a time that was an agonising 0.01 second off Scott’s British best of 47.87.

In second place was Olympic champion Dean and 17-year-old Loughborough National Centre swimmer Jacob Whittle broke the age group record twice in the same day as he lowered his heats time to take the bronze medal. Both Burras and Dean’s times saw them inside the World Championship consideration mark of 48.15, with Dean notching an impressive new 100m personal best of 48.06

An emotional Burras said: “I watched the Men's 100m Freestyle last year. I had just undergone a hernia operation so was unable to walk, but I knew that those boys were on to something special, and if I was going to turn up today and do what I needed to do, it was going to take something special.

“I took it out hard, I had to attack my turn, hit my kicks and keep the breathing pattern going. A big focus was trying to stay in the middle of the lane, and not let either Tom or Jacob ride that wave home. I got to the 10m mark and told myself, 'pain is temporary', and that helped me get my head down.

“These guys are some of the best swimmers in the world, I've been lucky enough to swim with Tom on a junior team, with Brodie Williams - and to see them there in Tokyo, I knew I had let myself down in a way. But it has definitely given me some fire to push on in this cycle.”

Anna Hopkin earned the title of British champion as her programme opened with victory in the Women’s 50m Freestyle final.

The sprinter, coached by Mel Marshall, powered down the centre of the pool to touch the wall first in the traditional ‘splash and dash’ race, dipping under the 25-second mark in the process.

Isabella Hindley of Brompton was next up to secure the silver medal position, with Bromley’s Evelyn Davis third on the podium.

Hopkin said: “This wasn't the focal meet, obviously I've got a really busy summer ahead, so throwing that into the mix as well as having COVID in the last week, it's been a pretty uncertain week - but I'm pretty happy with how I've swum, considering.

“At the minute, I've qualified for Worlds as a relay swimmer, so obviously I still need to prove myself individually. Hopefully over the coming months, when we do more competitions, I can prove myself more than now. It's a bit of a different year to last year, so hopefully there is more to come in the summer.

“At the moment, I feel I have momentum going through, but I think after the summer, I'm going to need a decent break this year, because then it's two years to Paris and that's when we really need to refresh and be a bit more fresh in the mind as well. I've just got to push through this year, try to build on what I did last summer, then take a good break after the summer and come back through for Paris.”

Hopkin was also presented with her world record certificate, alongside Adam Peaty, James Guy and Kathleen Dawson, for their record-breaking Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay swim at Tokyo 2020.

On that, Anna added: “My mum and dad are here, they obviously couldn't watch me live at the Olympics. For them to see that presentation will mean a lot.

“They were gutted they couldn’t be out there, they'd have 100 per cent been there. So it's nice they can feel a part of it here now.”

Laura Stephens executed a strong race in the Women’s 200m Butterfly final to be crowned as British champion. Stephens – who has recently moved from Plymouth Leander to the Loughborough National Centre – was just outside the consideration time for the World Championships, despite a gutsy finish.

University of Stirling’s Keanna Macinnes was next to touch for silver, followed by Holly Hibbott of the Bath National Centre.

After her win, Stephens said: “It's been a bit of a rocky season so far, coming off the back of the Olympics and the ISL - preparation hasn't been 100 per cent smooth.

“So with what we've had, I'm really happy with that swim and to be there, especially after transitioning programmes, it's a really promising start. That transition has been really good. I'm so happy working with Dave [coach David Hemmings], he's been great so far and I'm just really excited to see what we can do this summer.”

Swansea Aquatics’ Daniel Jervis gradually built into a strong lead in the Men’s 1500m Freestyle to take another British title at Ponds Forge.

The 25-year-old, who finished fifth in the same event at the Tokyo Olympics, said he is in the ‘best shape of his life’ but still wanted more as he narrowly missed out on dipping inside the Budapest standard. Jervis still did more than enough to clinch his second gold medal of the week, with Loughborough University’s Tobias Robinson finishing in second place and Bath National Centre Luke Turley in third.

To catch up on all the day's results, click here.