Molly Renshaw definitely made a statement this weekend at the Japan Open by tying the English national record in the 200m breaststroke.
Renshaw swam a 2:24.46 to finish second and tie the mark set by Sophie Taylor at the British Gas Swimming Championships in April. At that meet, Taylor finished just ahead of Renshaw who finished behind her in 2:25.10 also making the Commonwealth Games team.
The British National Record remains a 2:24.04, set by Kirsty Balfour in 2006 (she’s Scottish).
With Renshaw tying her record, it’s definitely the start of a great rivalry heading into the Commonwealth Games. These two are both only 18, so you can expect some great races between these two for the next few years as they’ll go head-to-head many times at British nationals and other meets.
Currently the two swimmers sit ninth in the world this year. Out of swimmers competing at the commonwealth Games, they’re both ranked second behind Australia’s Taylor Mckeown who swam a 2:22.10 at the Australian National Championships earlier this year.
They’ll have some stiff competition from the Canadians this summer as well with the likes of Martha McCabe and Tera Van Beilen.