Peaty reigns at Tollcross as Murdoch falls short

So high has Adam Peaty elevated our expectation that anything less than marvels and miracles can seem humdrum, writes Mark Woods.

Last August, the Olympic champion claimed a world record in Glasgow’s Tollcross Pool which secured 100 metres breaststroke gold at the European Championships. Last night, another title, another ferocious showing, enough to suggest that new barriers will soon be broken.

The 24-year-old completed the formality of cementing his spot at July’s world championships in Gwangju, South Korea with victory on the opening night of the British Championships, clocking 57.87 seconds – the fastest time in the world this year. Such is the competitiveness on home soil that James Wilby and Ross Murdoch, adjoining him on the podium, now sit third and fifth in the global rankings.

Peaty predicted further gains in today’s 50 metres event but it may take bigger stages to make more history. “I need to be racing in international

0 Adam Peaty: Fastest time.

waters in front of 10,000 people to get that last end at the moment,” the 24-year-old insisted. “I could do that at worlds. But this is not the time to do a fast time. It’s looking good for worlds, though. That gives me great confidence.”

With the top two primed for selection for the worlds, Murdoch now requires a revival act over 50m or 200m this week. “I’ll throw the book out now and start again for the next one,” pledged the Scot.

Hannah Miley, not yet wholly recovered from ankle surgery, came third in the 400m individual medley behind Aimee Willmott and Abbie Wood. Daniel Jervis of Wales eased to the men’s 400m freestyle title with Rio 2016 silver medallist Stephen Milne fifth.