Rebecca Adlington's participation in the 800 metres freestyle at the Olympics this summer moved another step closer this morning after a heat swim that indicates she will have to encounter some bizarre mishap if she is not to qualify for the Games.
Adlington had already booked her spot with a dominant victory in the 400m on the second day of competition.
She returned to the Aquatics Centre this morning in the first stage of her bid to qualify for her specialist event and led from start to finish to touch in eight minutes 26.62 seconds, highly impressive for a heat at this time of year.
Eleanor Faulkner, third in the 200m and 400m freestyle, was the second-fastest in 8mins 33.16secs and is favourite to claim the second spot behind Adlington.
Jazmin Carlin was third ahead of Megan Gilchrist and Keri-Anne Payne.
Faulkner is one member of a City of Sheffield squad who are enjoying a fruitful week. The 19-year-old has already booked a 4x200m freestyle relay spot after finishing third over four lengths in a race won by club team-mate Rebecca Turner.
Adam Brown was fastest in the 50m freestyle heats in 22.63 as the men look to make up for last night's disappointing 100m sprint in which no one attained the qualifying time.
Jack Marriott was fastest through in the 100m butterfly in 53.16secs ahead of Antony James and British record-holder Michael Rock.
Lizzie Simmonds (2:11.13) had plenty left in reserve in the 200m backstroke heats, finishing ahead of Stephanie Proud, 10th at last year's World Championships in Shanghai, and Gemma Spofforth.
In the multi-disability events, Sascha Kindred (S6) returned to the pool after last night's success to lead the 200m individual medley. Double Paralympic champion Eleanor Simmonds (S6) heads the women's equivalent in 3:13.49.
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