Capital student chasing gold in Open Championships

Edinburgh University’s Kathryn Johnstone set a Scottish record in the 50m breaststroke at last week’s final Olympic trials – and will aim for more success at today’s Scottish Gas National Open Championships at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.

Warrender’s Lewis Smith, who wasn’t far away from making Team GB for next month’s Olympics, will also chase gold in the event that returns to the Commonwealth Pool from Glasgow for the first time since 1999.

Hannah Miley, an Olympic medal hope, is another star attraction. The Inverurie 22-year-old is the only one of the six Scots in team GB who has decided to compete in the capital. “I always love swimming in Scotland and it is great to get a first chance to race in the pool since it was refurbished,” said Miley.

Lucy Ellis, who won the 400m freestyle at last week’s British gas ASA National Championships in Sheffield, and her Stirling training mate, Jak Scott, who swam for GB in last year’s World Championships in Shanghai, will be bidding for multiple titles.

Over the four days of the Championships, there will be a quartet Team GB’s Parlaympics squad taking part. Scots Jim Anderson (Stirling), Craig Rodgie (Edinburgh University), Andrew Mullen (Ren ’96) and England’s Charlotte Henshaw are all in the mix.