Two British records fall in final Aberdeen heats

20 Feb 2022

Ellie Challis and Lyndon Longhorne set a new British record apiece on the final morning of heats at the Para Swimming World Series inc. British Para-Swimming Meet - while Stephen Clegg led the way in both of his events. 

The Women's MC 50m Freestyle began Sunday's action - and the busy Challis was involved, laying down a new S3 British best of 53.11, well inside her own previous mark, as she continues to build into a busy season on the back of her Paralympic debut in Tokyo. 

Hannah Russell - who has enjoyed a promising early-season meet at Aberdeen Sports Village - was the top British qualifier from the heats, with her time worth 815 points. 

Moments later, Derwentside ASC competitor Longhorne followed up on his British record from Saturday's Men's 200m Freestyle by smashing his own S4 national best in the splash and dash of the 50m event, clocking a 43.76 to go more than a second better than his previous PB.

That ensured a points tally of 611 and a place in the World Series final, which will have Clegg as favourite. The S12 Edinburgh University competitor was in fine morning form here, tallying 768 points with a solid 50m Freestyle heat before returning to the pool to ease well clear of the field in qualifying top for the Men's 100m Butterfly final.

That was the event to bring Clegg a world record in the very last race of the British Para-Swimming Meet in Sheffield last April - and a points tally of 933 here shows how difficult he will be to overcome when the medals are decided in the finals. 

S14 duo Jessica-Jane Applegate and Poppy Maskill enjoyed an eye-catching race to lead out the qualifying in the Women's MC 100m Butterfly. 

Three-time Paralympian Applegate led Alsager SC's Maskill home after a strong opening 75m, despite Maskill's resurgent finish. Toni Shaw (S9) rounded out the top three in the heats, finishing in a time worth 717 points to Applegate's 819 and Maskill's 788.

Head over to our #Aberdeen2022 page to access full results, the session livestream and more ahead of the curtain coming down on this meet with the last finals...