Duncan Scott, the double Olympic relay medallist, was in impressive form on the opening day of the Scottish National Short Course Championships, claiming two titles at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.
The 19-year-old from the University of Stirling won a close final of the 100m butterfly in 51.36secs and then cruised to victory in the 400m freestyle.
His time of 3:40.40 was over ten seconds ahead of second placed Jack McMillan.
In the ‘fly, he was just 0.01secs outside the Scottish record set by Mark Szaranek at the World Championships in Canada on Wednesday.
“I decided to miss the World Short Course so I could swim in a lot of events here,” said Scott. “I’m going for another double in the 200m medley and butterfly tomorrow.
“I took five weeks off after the Olympics, which is a long time for a 19-year-old. I’m off to Tenerife for a training camp in January and then there are the trials for the World Championships.”
Camilla Hattersley and Craig Benson, the two other Olympians in the field, also stepped up to the mark to claim National titles. And both did it after a tough day at University.
Hattersley, an Aeronautics student at Glasgow University, sat an exam in the morning before driving over the M8 to land the 800m freestyle title in 8:26.48.
Having experienced a first Olympics, she is now hungry for more, and the 2017 goal is a debut at the World Championships in Hungary.
“The Olympics was an amazing experience,” she said of her Rio adventure. “It was everything and more than I ever expected. It was great to go there and realise that all my hard work had paid off.
“I was happy to win tonight, but I hope to go even faster at the ASA Nationals (in Sheffield) next week.”
Benson had a mad dash from the University of Stirling to make the starting blocks for the 50m breaststroke - and he was rewarded with a gold medal in the 50m breaststroke in 27.22secs.
“I had a law exam from 2-4,” said the accounts and finance student, who has long been one of a world-class group of Scottish breaststrokers that also included Ross Murdoch and Michael Jamieson.
“The swim was much shorter, and much more enjoyable than the exam and it feels really good to get the title.
“Becoming Scottish Champion means a big deal to me. Last year there was a lot of pressure to make the Olympics. At the moment, I’m just really enjoying my swimming.”
Corrie Scott, the 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, set a new Scottish record of 1:06.06 in the 100m breaststroke.
She is another juggling a demanding University career with her swimming. The Edinburgh chemistry student has recently started a new job with a pharmaceutical company.
“It’s the best thing,” she stated. “Mentally it’s better than doing nothing but swimming.
“I’ve been trying to get the Scottish long course record for a few years and short course has never been my best. So it’s great to get the record.” ?One of the highlights of the opening day was a Scottish Junior record and a first senior title for 15-year-old Keanna MacInnes.
Beating her previous best by four seconds, the Heart of Midlothian swimmer clocked 2”08.79 and scored a first ever win over the more experienced Tain Bruce.
On Wednesday, MacInnes will be one of a group of young Scots going to Canada for the Ontario Junior International meet.
Craig McNally, who has been so unfortunate to miss out on the last two Olympics, has recently had a change of swimming scenery, moving from Warrender to City of Glasgow.
The 24-year-old, who swam for Team GB at the 2013 World Championships, won the 200m backstroke in 1:52.18, and retains his enthusiasm for the big time.
“I decided it was time for a change and so I’v moved to Glasgow,” said the Edinburgh man.
“Laurel (Bailey), my coach at Warrender, agreed with me and I’m now working with Ian Wright. He was at Warrender and coached me about eight years ago.”
He has also moved his study base, switching from Heriot-Watt to the University of the West of Scotland.
“This season I just want to enjoy it and see how things go,” he said.
Cassie Wild was another Scottish junior record breaker with a time of 27.74secs in the heats of the 50m backstroke.
She was just a little slower in the final in finishing with the silver medal behind Edinburgh University’s Lucy Hope.
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