Duncan Scott Lifts 200IM Crown; Ollie Morgan Goes Top of 50 Back Rankings
Duncan Scott added another swim to his programme at the European Championships with victory in the 200IM at the national trials in London.
Scott has won silver at the last two Olympics clocked 1:56.08 ahead of Evan Jones (1:58.09) and Max Litchfield with the 400IM champion clocking 1:58.70.
It was his second title of the week following the 200 fly and secures him another shot at extending his 11-strong European haul in Paris this summer.
“It was pretty good, I think. In terms of my technique, my strokes and transitions between them felt pretty good, and I’m happy – that’s a good place for me to be at this time of the season.”
Morgan Takes Top Spot
Ollie Morgan: Photo Courtesy: Morgan Harlow, Aquatics GB
Ollie Morgan clinched the backstroke double with a 24.36 PB propelling him to the 50 title and top spot in the rankings.
The Paris Olympian dislodged Michele Lamberti after the Italian had gone to pole position with his 24.38 Italian record at the national championships in Riccione.
“Another PB,” he said. “I was a little bit disappointed after yesterday. It’s nice to come in today, PB and put my head in a good place. [Process] was to try and use things warming up o spice it up a little bit; like this morning I didn’t even duo a full warm-up, so just trying to play around with new things.”
Morgan keeps inching closer to Liam Tancock’s 24.04 British record that has stood since the supersuit era.
“It would be pretty nice … looking up to Liam when I was a kid, so to get anywhere near that time, well, it used to be a world record, would be pretty special if I can get down to that.”
Jack Skerry also made the Paris cut in 24.66 with Cam Brooker third in 24.85.
Okaro Makes Maiden Journey Inside 26
Eva Okaro: Photo Courtesy: Morgan Harlow/Aquatics GB
Eva Okaro also won her second title of the week when she added the 50 fly to her 100 free crown in 25.95, her first journey inside 26secs.
Okaro said: “I’m really happy with that. The 50m is a bit of a fun one for me, but I really enjoyed that race. I wanted to race the event to break up the meet a bit, but I’m also quite good at a splash and dash, so why not?!”
Harriet Rogers was second in 26.28, while Ciara Schlosshan broke the Scottish national record to claim third in 26.38.
Ed Mildred has flourished since his move to Manchester Performance Centre and a 51.02 PB saw him secured the 100 fly title. It followed silver in the 200 and secured another swim in Paris where the medley relays may await.
Jacob Peters also booked a Paris spot in 51.34 after coming through a difficult couple of years when he didn’t qualify for the 2024 Olympics. Lewis Fraser took third (51.81).
Colbert Clinches 200/400 Double
Freya Colbert won the 400 free a day after lowering her British record over 200m.
![Freya Colbert thumbs up 400m IM [MorganHarlowBritishSwimming]](https://vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Freya-Colbert-thumbs-up-400m-IM-MorganHarlowBritishSwimming-700x500.jpg)
Freya Colbert: Photo Courtesy: Morgan Harlow/British Swimming
Katie Shanahan felt lucky just to be at the championships after a season of illness and injury that set her preparation back. There were no qualifiers for the Paris Europeans but Shanahan topped the final in a battle with Olympic teammate Honey Osrin that ended 2:09.89 to 2:10.12.
Iona Winnifrith (women’s 50m butterfly), Will Ellard (men’s 100m butterfly), Rhys Darbey (men’s 200m individual medley) and Alice Tai (women’s 400m freestyle) all won their respective mixed classification events, while the women’s 400m freestyle also saw Rebecca Hardy-Bishop set a new S11 national record.