Michael Jamieson showed his fighting qualities to win his second specialist event on day two of the British Gas International Swimming Meet – and he’s confident of doubling up in Leeds.
Jamieson, who won silver in the 200m breaststroke at the London 2012 Olympics, opened his campaign over half the distance but was forced into a swim-off to make the final after placing joint eighth in the heats.
The 24-year-old beat Russell Smith to make the final before leading from start to finish to clock a winning time of 1:00.82minutes with Christopher Steeples in second and Robert Holderness in third.
Jamieson’s victory came from an outside lane and, with his preferred 200m breaststroke to come in Leeds, the Scot admits his outings in the 100m will benefit him over double the distance.
“I’m quite happy, especially after the morning and having to swim an extra race so I have to be pleased to take the win,” said Jamieson.
“I had to swim my own race in the outside lane, I couldn’t see what was happening and I just focused on my own swim.
“I have been working on my front end speed in that first 50m to get out a bit quicker and hopefully that will reduce my time. It bodes well for the 200m.”
There was a second Scottish victory on day two in Leeds as the always-busy Hannah Miley beat off competition from fellow London 2012 Olympian Aimee Willmott to win the 400m medley in a time of 4:35.57.
Willmott was over three seconds behind in second while Keri-Anne Payne was third and, despite admitting to feeling the effects of her campaign in Leeds – Miley’s swam the 800m freestyle and 200m medley finals on day one – she’s enjoying the meet.
“I’m really happy with how that went,” said Miley. “It is faster than I went two weeks ago which was a nice surprise.
“I’ve got a few events this week so that definitely hurt but it is all part of the preparation for the season.
“I raced nine races in one day last weekend so I’m racing a lot and trying to put that quality into training.”
Georgia Davies added a win in the 100m backstroke to her victory over half the distance on day one while Joe Roebuck followed suit completing the butterfly double by triumphing in the 200m after success in the 100m on Friday.
Daniel Fogg, who finished fifth in the 10km open water event at London 2012, won the 1500m freestyle and Molly Renshaw was victorious in the 200m breaststroke while the foreign competitors stepped up in the three other events.
Fran Halsall was beaten by 100m freestyle world champion Jeanette Ottesen Gray in the 50m butterfly while Olympic champion Femke Heemskerk edged out Rebeeca Turner in the 200m freestyle.
And in the men’s 50m freestyle American Anthony Ervin, who won the Olympic title over the distance at Sydney 2000, won the final by almost half a second ahead of British teenager Benjamin Proud, his winning time in Leeds 22.28.
© Sportsbeat 2013