• British Swimming Championships

Halsall and Goddard triumph

Fran Halsall grabbed gold in the 100 metres freestyle © Getty Images

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Fran Halsall and James Goddard were the two big winners on Thursday at the British Swimming Championships in Manchester.

Halsall, second in the 100 metres butterfly earlier in the week, grabbed an impressive victory in the 100 metres freestyle, edging out Loughborough University team-mate Amy Smith over the final few minutes to win in a time of 55.01 seconds.

The time saw Halsall claim a spot on the Great Britain team for the World Championships in Shanghai in July.

"It's fabulous, I'm really happy about qualifying," Halsall, who only returned to training a month ago after ankle surgery, said. "I would like to have dipped under the 55 (second) mark if possible but I did what I needed to do, what I came here to do.

"A few months training I'll be back where I used to be. It's just focusing on that now and getting back in and getting on target for the summer."

She will be joined in China by Goddard after he comfortably triumphed in the 200 metres individual medley.

The 27-year-old finished in a time of 1:57.08, four seconds clear of second placed Xavier Mohammed, but knows he will have to up his game before he heads to the World Championships.

"I am pleased," he said. "It's a solid time. I've qualified for both events which is what I came here to do.

"I've not felt in the best shape this week so I am actually pretty pleased with the results I've come out with. I've definitely got to go faster than my best time if I want to get a medal in Shanghai."

In the night's other finals, Stacey Todd and Michael Jamieson won the women's and men's 200 metres breaststroke respectively - while Gemma Spofforth and Lizzie Simmonds both qualified for the final of the hotly-contested 200 metres backstroke.

Earlier, Rebecca Adlington continued on course for a third title of the week after qualifying fastest for the final of the 800 metres.

Having already won the 200 and 400 metres this week, Adlington qualified comfortably in a time of eight minutes 35.99 seconds - leading the race from start to finish. Cassandra Patten was second, with Jazmin Carlin third.

Kerri-Anne Payne, who is still looking to qualifying for the year's World Championships, made her way into the final after finishing fourth.

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