Jazmin Carlin is well placed to claim a second major international swimming title this summer after breezing into the 800m freestyle final as the fastest qualifier at the European Championships in Berlin.
Carlin topped a major international podium for the first time in her career at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, securing gold in the 800m freestyle at a canter with almost three seconds between first and second.
And the cushion in which she comfortably qualified for the European final over the distance was similar with Carlin clocking 8:22.70 minutes to qualify quickest by 2.52 seconds ahead of Mirela Belmonte Garcia.
After a stunning Tuesday night in which Britain won seven medals including three golds, the third morning was just as fruitful with Carlin completing a host of successful swims across the six scheduled disciplines.
Newly crowned European 100m backstroke and 4x100m mixed medley relay champion Chris Walker-Hebborn advanced out of the 50m heats as the seventh fastest while Aimee Willmott progressed to the 200m medley semi-finals in third.
Willmott helped get Britain up and running with 400m medley bronze on the opening night while Lizzie Simmonds, who claimed 200m backstroke silver on Tuesday, moved out of the 100m heats along with Georgia Davies.
They ranked sixth and third overall while Britain continue to star in the men’s breaststroke events with Andrew Willis this time taking centre stage and leading the way in the 200m heats to qualify second fastest.
Ross Murdoch was fourth while there was disappointment for double Commonwealth champion and fellow Brit Adam Peaty as his placing behind Willis and Peaty in Berlin meant he is forced to miss out.
Only two swimmers per nation are allowed out of the heats and Peaty was eighth overall – the morning after the night before where he forced Murdoch to settle for silver over 100m and also starred in the mixed relay.
Elsewhere Cameron Brodie advanced out of the 200m butterfly heats in tenth – neither Jay Lelliott, a bronze medallist in the 400m freestyle on the opening night nor Roberto Pavoni, who goes in the 200m medley final, starting.
© Sportsbeat 2014