British Championships, Day 3 Women’s Finals: Eva Okaro Scorches To 24.48 50 Free & Angharad Evans Goes 2:21 In 200 Breast
Eva Okaro scorched to 24.48 in the 50 free and Angharad Evans went 2:21.86 in the 200m breaststroke on day three of the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships in London.
Okaro, who is coached by Jamie Main at Repton School, booked a trip to the World Championships in Singapore, a year after sealing her spot on Team GB for Paris 2024 with a fine swim at last year’s Olympic trials.
Evans rattled the British record before making the cut with some ease while Lauren Cox took the 50 back.
Okaro and Evans joined Freya Colbert (200 free, 4IM), Keanna MacInnes (200 fly) and Abbie Wood (4IM) on the plane to the Singapore worlds.
The meet doubles as trials for the World Championships which run from 27 July to 3 August where selection will be based on performances at the Paris Olympics and the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships in London.
Relay medallists will be selected subject to confirmation by the Great Britain head coach, Steve Tigg. The men’s 4×2 free quartet claimed an historic gold as they defended their title from Tokyo with Tom Dean and Guy joining Richards and Scott.
While swimmers who won a medal in an individual event at Paris 2024 will be selected to the Great Britain team for that event in Singapore, no British women reached the podium in the French capital.
To qualify for worlds, a swimmer must finish first in an Olympic event and record a time that equals or betters those in the table below.
- Start Lists/Results
- Selection Policy
- Preview: Angharad Evans
- Preview: Ollie Morgan
- Aquatics GB YouTube Channel
- BBC Sport website/iPlayer
- Day 1 Prelims Report
- Day 1 Men’s Final
- Day 1 Women’s Finals
- Day 2 Prelims Report
- Day 2 Women’s Finals
- Day 2 Men’s Finals
- Day 3 Prelims Report
Women’s 50 Back
Lauren Cox – the 2023 world bronze medallist – led throughout to take the title in 27.72 as she upgraded 100 silver to gold over one length. “I’m really happy, I love the 50,” she said. “I still want to do the 100 as there’s a great relay chance. My stroke rate is one of my super-strengths.”
Blythe Kinsman – a medallist at the last two European juniors – set an age group record of 27.93 with Kathleen Dawson third in 28.48.
Women’s 200m Breaststroke; QT, 2:23.04
Angharad Evans was inside British record pace into the final 50 before touching in 2:21.86, a Scottish record and well inside the cut for Singapore. She said on poolside: “I couldn’t believe it. It’s been a real journey to get here.” Kara Hanlon was second in 2:24.07 with Sienna Robinson next home in 2:29.14.
The University of Stirling swimmer elevated herself to third performer all-time in Britain behind Molly Renshaw whose national record stands at 2:20.89 and Abbie Wood (2:21.69).
Evans’ immediate reaction? “Speechless if anything! I was really nervous all of today after heats and something clicked right before that race. I was like realistically no-one cares about me and I was like I’m the only one that really wants this. And in that race I genuinely had so much fun, racing Kara I could see her across the pool, and she’s such good competition I think we really push each other along. So to touch that wall and see that I got my spot on the team is such a relief, especially for that 100 later this week – I can just go and have fun and see what I can do.”
Women’s 50 Free: QT, 24.61
Eva Okaro scorched to 24.48 to go 0.13 inside the cut for Singapore. That elevates her towards the upper echelons of the world rankings for 2025 and follows the national records set in recent days by Belgian Florine Gaspard (24.42) and Sara Curtis of Italy (24.43). Rebecca Guy (25.02) took second with Skye Carter and Darcy Revitt sharing third in 25.19.
The 18-year-old elevated herself to third all-time performer in the British rankings behind only sprinting great Fran Halsall and Olympic relay champion Anna Hopkin. Halsall owns the top 11 times in Britain topped by her 23.96 from the 2014 Commonwealth Games while Hopkin’s best stands at 24.34.
Okaro, coached by Jamie Main at Repton School, tries not to put pressure on herself to achieve when it comes to times. “It was just kind of going out there and seeing what I could do, that’s how I swim,” she said. “I think last year gave me a lot of experience and helped me get my mind and head in the right place in the competition and pool and arena. Dealing with the crowd and stuff like that: so I think it has helped me in a sense to calm down my nerves before a race and I think that’s really beneficial for me.”
Para Swimming
S11 swimmer Scarlett Humphrey clinched the 50 free by a single point over Callie-Ann Warrington (S10), while Rebecca Redfern was third.
The night began with Paralympic champion Ellie Challis once again showing her quality on backstroke as she claimed the women’s MC 50m backstroke, her time of 56.25 also seeing her go inside the S3 qualification time for September’s Para Swimming World Championships. “That’s what I wanted coming into this meet was that time, and I know I can go home happy – I’ve got another swim on Sunday so we’ll see what happens, but I’m happy with the meet so far,” she said. Claire Connon was in silver, with Tully Kearney taking bronze.
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