Robbie Renwick is determined to better his own British 200m freestyle record after cruising through to the World Championship semi-finals as the fastest qualifier.
Renwick touched home in 1:46.88minutes to win his heat, less than a second away from the 1:45.99 national mark he set in the era of polyurethane suits at the worlds in Rome four years ago.
And after the disappointment of the opening night in Barcelona, where Renwick failed to make the 400m freestyle final, the 25-year-old is desperate to lay down a marker next time out.
“I felt it was important to get a good race in this morning, I was pretty disappointed with the opening night but that has got my confidence back up again and hopefully I can get a British record next time,” said Renwick, whose British teammate Ieuan Lloyd failed to qualify.
“It will be good going in the middle lane in the second heat, I can really see what everyone else has done before me and give myself the best opportunity to get into that final.”
Fellow Brit Chris Walker-Hebborn made it through to the semi-finals of the 100m backstroke and then set his sights on making three finals in Barcelona.
The 23-year-old, who touched home in 54.23 seconds to finish 12th overall in the heats, will also swim the 200m backstroke and the 4x100m medley later in the week.
And ahead of the 100m semi-final at the Palau Sant Jordi pool, Walker-Hebborn claims he has a great chance of living up to his expectations.
“I think three finals is the goal, and then if I can make the finals I will take it from there and see what happens,” he said.
“I’m happy with my first swim, it was always going to be tough to make it back, but happy to make it back into the semis, there’s plenty more there I just have to bring it back.”
Meanwhile Jazmin Carlin failed to put the heartache of a fourth-place finish in the 400m freestyle on the opening night behind as she crashed out of the 1500m heats.
Lauren Quigley finished fifth in her 100m backstroke heat and 15th overall to make it through to the semi-finals but it was heartbreak for Georgia Davies who could only place 19th overall.
Elsewhere, Sophie Allen exited in the heats of the 100m breaststroke, which saw Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte set a new championship record of 1:04.52, but will go in the 200m medley final in the evening alongside Siobhan-Marie O’Connor.
© Sportsbeat 2013