Olympic Finalist Katie Shanahan On Top Of The Podium At Scottish Nationals In Edinburgh
Katie Shanahan was among the winners as the Scottish National & Open Short Course Swimming Championships got underway at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.
Shanahan enjoyed a tussle with Holly McGill in the 200 back with the latter reducing the deficit to 0.08 at the 150m mark. Shanahan – fifth on her Olympic debut at Paris 2024 – pulled away to win in 2:03.86 with McGill touching in 2:04.60 and Hannah Pearse third in 2:07.75.
Cameron Brooker, Jack Skerry and Matthew Ward met in the men’s 200 back final. Little separated them throughout the race before Brooker pulled away for a clear victory in 1:51.56.
Cameron Brooker: Photo Courtesy: University of Bath
Ward – who has won an armful of European junior medals – took silver and the Scottish national title in 1:53.11 with Skerry touching in 1:53.27 for bronze. Dean Fearn (Aberdeen Dolphin) broke the Scottish junior record in 1:56.96 and in doing so lowered the standard that had stood to Craig McLean since 2014 before he went on to win European and Commonwealth medals.
Jack McMillan – who swam the prelims as the Great Britain 4×2 relay quartet won gold at Paris 2024 was the only man inside 48secs in the 100 free in 47.73 ahead of Evan Bailey (48.28) and Ruairi McKinnon (48.74).
Grace Davison made her Olympic debut aged 16 at Paris 2024 and will head off to Budapest for the short-course worlds in the coming days. The Swim Ireland athlete was the only woman inside 54secs in 53.93 with Evie Davis the first Scot home in 54.25, 0.04 ahead of Lucy Hope (54.29).
Leah Crisp enjoyed a comprehensive victory in the women’s 800 free in 8:31.57 with Michaella Glenister winning the Scottish title in second in 8:41.48.
Edinburgh University teammates Luke Hornsey and Arthur Logan went inside the 8min barrier in the men’s race in 7:51.33 and 7:58.73.
Suzie McNair showed impressive form in the 400m IM. The Scottish junior athlete contested this event on debut at the European Junior Championships in Vilnius, Lithuania, where she just missed out on a place in the final. The University of Stirling swimmer enjoyed a clear victory in 4:45.04.
George Smith took the men’s title in 4:09.11.
Keanna MacInnes won the women’s 50 fly in 26.17 with Calum Bain taking the men’s title while Kara Hanlon (30.29) and Rory Dickson (27.08) were the respective winners of the 50m breaststroke.