Siobhan-Marie O’Connor lit up the first morning of the British Gas Swimming Championships, dominating her 200m freestyle heat in Glasgow.
The 18-year-old, who also eased into the 100m fly semi-finals later in the morning, set a PB of 1:57.23 – the fourth fastest ever from a female GB swimmer.
Ellie Faulker, Lizzie Simmonds and Jazz Carlin joined O’Connor in safe progression to the semi-finals, while Fran Halsall and Jemma Lowe were also in action in the 100m fly.
Lowe and Aimee Wilmott kicked off proceedings on Thursday by winning their respective 400m IM heats, the latter qualifying fastest in 1:40.70.
There were a handful of PBs in the men’s 400m freestyle, as Michael Gunning (3:56.65), Jay Lelliott (3:50.36) and Gareth Mills (3:51.28) each won their heats.
Carlin (1:58.37) was next fastest qualifier to O’Connor in the 200m freestyle before Sophie Taylor, with a PB of 31.04, was quickest in the 50m breast stroke.
Ben Proud (23.78) led the qualifiers in the men’s 50m fly with Warren Cannon next best with a PB of 24.14, before O’Connor was back in action.
Halsall (58.65) was fastest in the 100m fly heats, while Rachael Kelly (59.09) and O’Connor (59.70) each won their heats in under a minute.
And the men finished off proceedings, as Liam Tancock (55.34) and Chris Walker-Hebborn (55.35) eased into the 100m backstroke semi-finals.
Andrew Willis was fastest in the 200m breast stroke, clocking 2:11.42 to beat Adam Peaty (2:11.94) in his heat, while Michael Jamieson (2:12.43) also booked him semi-final spot by beating James Wilby’s three-second PB of 2:12.69.
© Sportsbeat 2014