Garioch’s Hannah Miley and Aberdeen’s Robbie Renwick were among a list of winners and Commonwealth Games qualifiers at last night’s Scottish Gas national championships at Tollcross in Glasgow.
Miley was in terrific form – claiming her expected win in the 200metres individual medley and also coming out top in the taxing 800m freestyle.
But it was Michael Jamieson who was the star of day two, sweeping to victory in the 200m breaststroke.
The Glasgow-born Olympic silver medallist stood out with a winning time of 2:08.01, well inside the qualifying mark for the Commonwealth Games at the same venue this summer.
“It’s always great to be back here and swimming in Glasgow,” said the Bath-based 25-year-old.
But he was not prepared to give himself too much applause after pushing the new 50m British record-holder Ross Murdoch into second place.
“It was a rubbish time,” insisted Jamieson after the 2:08.01 effort in the final. “I ran out of juice in the final length.
“I had a really good swim in the morning heats but I think I got a bit too excited and I couldn’t sleep in the afternoon. I haven’t swum competitively since mid January. But the British championships are back here next week and I’ll definitely go faster.
“But at least it is job done this week and now I can work hard and get all the preparation done for the Games.”
Murdoch (2:09.15) was also inside the Games qualifying mark and so was third-placed Calum Tait (2:11.02).
Having missed out on the qualifying time in winning the 100m freestyle on Thursday, Renwick, who swims for City of Glasgow, was delighted to add his name to the Games list with a 3:48.34 win in the 400m.
In a close finish, Dan Wallace (3:49.464) and Stephen Milne (3:51.53), who had already won the 1,500m freestyle, could also celebrate Games times.
“I’m so much happier than last night,” admitted Renwick, the two-time Olympian and 200m Commonwealth Games champion. “I was far too tense before the 100m and I’ve got to get it right for the Games.
“I am fine at Olympics and Commonwealth Games, but it is the qualifying meets that I find so hard. You can’t be arrogant about making the times and you’ve got to be sharp from the first day.”
Miley completed an individual medley double and added a second Games qualifying time in 2:12.94 in the 200m individual medley.
She then won the 800m in 8:36.49.
The experienced 24-year-old won the 400m medley at the New Delhi Games in 2010 and the two-time Olympian will be one of the home favourites again in Glasgow in July.
There were a hat-trick of qualifiers in the women’s 100m breaststroke as Edinburgh University’s Kathryn Johnstone got the touch in 1:0.71ahead of training companion Corrie Scott (1:08.99). Katie Armitage also made it in 1:09.43.
University of Stirling’s Sian Harkin was another to make the standard, winning the 50m freestyle in 25.57.