British Swimming may have left their best 100 breaststroker at home from the World Championships. At the British Gas ASA National Championships (Youth, Open, and Multi Class variety) that began Tuesday back home, Adam Peaty took the top seed in the 17-18 100 meter breaststroke with a 59.92. That breaks the British National Age Record held by Craig Benson (who incidentally won the 19 & overs open division in 1:00.57 on Wednesday).
Benson was a 1:00.04 almost a year ago to-the-date at the Olympics, which Peaty cleared by over a tenth of a second. That time would have been faster than either British swimmer went when they fell out of the 100 at Worlds in the semifinals.
The British men’s breaststroking group is on the rise, between Benson, Peaty,Ross Murdoch, and Olympic medalist Michael Jamieson, among others. They are young, and they are already very good: two have been under a minute this year, and six have been under 1:01.
Full, live meet results available here.