Day two heats of the World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships were full of action for GBR, including a European record swim and 11 athletes progressed through to finals.
Andrew Mullen got his Dublin 2018 campaign underway in the Men’s S5 50m Backstroke and served up a swim inside the European record of 36.93 only for it to be lowered again in the next heat.
Mullen was quick off the wall and pulled away from the field to touch first in his heat and
The Women’s SM6 200m Individual Medley heats saw three British athletes in action, Maisie Summers-Newton, Grace Harvey and making her return to international competition for the first time since Rio 2016 Eleanor Simmonds.
Summers-Newton was the fastest qualifier of the 200m IM heats in a time of 3:01.70, a huge new personal best for her and less than two seconds away from the current S6 world record held by teammate Eleanor Simmonds.
Jacquie Marshall, Summers-Newton’s coach said, “It was a great heats swim, her best leg was certainly the backstroke. She’s focussed and will give it her all in the final and hopefully will come back even stronger.”
Simmonds posted the third fastest time of the morning, 3:08.49, she also comfortably secured her place in the final.
Reflecting on her heats swim, Simmonds said, “I’m happy to get a good one out of the ay. I was bit nervous but I’m going to rest up and get ready to hit the final tonight.”
Looking ahead to tonight’s medal contest, it’s going to be a tough final, Maisie did an incredible time in qualifying. I’m just going to race and give it everything I’ve got.
“I’m loving it here in Dublin, this is why you do all the training, and all the early mornings are for this. I’m so happy to be back, to be back representing GB at a Europeans, I’m so lucky
Grace Harvey will also return for the final, she competed in her second event of Dublin 2018 and ranked fourth after the three heats.
Tom Hamer and Jordan Catchpole took to the National Aquatic Centre pool for their first events of the week, the Men’s S14 200m Freestyle.
Hamer delivered a cool, calm and collected heats swim and qualified as number two for the final behind Michiel Jornik of the Netherlands.
Hamer explained, “The game plan for the heats was to not go too far out, test a few things and do a controlled swim.
“It’s a challenge, having to taper and peak more than once in a season but I’ve worked with my coach to prepare for this and I’m sure I’ll be fine for the final this evening.
“I take each competition as it comes, I try not to look at the rankings, just focus on my race and try to enjoy it.
Catchpole won his heat of the 200m free and will join Hamer as the fourth fastest qualifier.
In the Women’s S14 200m Freestyle heats we had three swimmers in action, Louise Fiddes and Bethany Firth returned to the water after their success on day one and were joined by Jessica-jane Applegate.
Applegate was ranked first after the two heats and will take the centre lane in the continental final tonight.
Fiddes, fresh from her 100m breast gold, qualified second fastest and Bethany Firth touched in the fourth quickest time of the morning.
15-year-old Toni Shaw continued a successful breakout season on the senior international circuit, she topped the board in the Women’s S9 100m Freestyle, her time was 1:05.72 at the touch.
Over in the Men’s S9 100m Freestyle heats Great Britain were represented by Lewis White and Ollie Hynd.
White led from start to finish first in his heat and eased his way to the top of the rankings to qualify top for the final in a time of 56.77 equalling his personal best time.
Hynd, finished slightly off the pace in 18th place with a time of 1:02.44
The morning heats session was rounded off by a non-medal event that saw GBR represented by Rebecca Redfern, she went in the SB13 100m Breaststroke and finished first in a time of 1:15.98, just off her personal best.
Click here for full results from day two heats of the World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships 2018 in Dublin.