Teenage swimming sensation Lauren Quigley claimed her first British title by winning the 100m backstroke at the British Gas Swimming Championships.
The Stockport Metro swimmer won gold in a personal best time of 1:00.07, beating London 2012 Olympians Georgia Davies and Elizabeth Simmonds – the 2010 100m back European silver medallist.
With competitors having to finish in the top two places and satisfy a given qualification time for the World Championships later this year, Quigley was delighted to swim so fast at the event in Ponds Forge, Sheffield.
“In the year after the Olympics, people have to get up there, race and show what they can do,” she told the BBC.
“I want a sub-one minute and hoped I’d do it tonight but I have the worlds now where I hope I can do it.”
Quigley will also compete in the 50m back at the World Championships after finishing second in 28.16 but may miss out in the 200m back by finishing runner-up outside the qualifying mark, clocking 2:10.15.
Teammate James Goddard failed to defend his 200m back title and missed out on qualification as he finished third behind Craig McNally and Chris Walker-Hebborn in 1:57.23.
Former Oldham Seals’ swimmers Jessica Fullalove and Jessica Lloyd also took part in the five-day event, swimming for City of Manchester Aquatics.
Fullalove competed in the 50, 100 and 200m back and despite securing a hat trick of podium places failed to book her place to the World Championships, finishing third in all three events.
Lloyd, who was part of the 4x100m freestyle relay team in London, finished fourth in the 50m free in a time of 25.66 behind a trio of Loughborough swimmers.
She failed to make the 200m free final but finished second in the 100m free behind British record holder and former World silver medallist Fran Halsall, missing the qualification time by clocking 55.30.
The 15th FINA World Championship which includes water polo, synchro and diving will take place in Barcelona, with swimming between July 28 and August 4.
Picture courtesy of Fabrizio Fogliani, with thanks.
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