Rebecca Adlington completes golden hat-trick at British Champs

From Chris Cottrell, Sportsbeat, in Sheffield

REBECCA Adlington sealed her third freestyle title of the week at the British Gas Swimming Championships and admitted the coming season would be the perfect dry run for London 2012.

BUSY SCHEDULE: Rebecca Adlington is ready to take on the 200m, 400m and 800m at the Commonwealth Games after completing her hat-trick at the British Champs (Getty Images / British Gas Swimming Championships)

The 21-year old romped to gold in the 400m freestyle, adding to her 200m and 800m crowns from earlier in the week as she clocked the joint fastest time in the world this season of 4:05.50 minutes.

With the meet in Sheffield acting as trials for this season's European Championships and Commonwealth Games, Adlington is now qualified to compete in all three individual disciplines, as well as the 4x200m relay, at both events.

And while she insisted she wouldn't take on all four races at both events, Adlington admitted she wants to practice spreading her attention over a number of distances with a view to repeating her Olympic double in 2012.

"I don't know if I'm going to do all of them at both but I would like to try it because at London hopefully I can go for more than one event," said Adlington.

"Previously I've just been focused on just the 800m but I think I need to try it and see how it goes with a couple more. This is the perfect year to test doing it rather than just going straight into it unprepared at the Olympics.

"I realise at London, I'll be a bit older and I might not be able to recover in between all these races so it's important to do this now. I feel old now - it takes me so much longer to recover than it used to.

"I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season now. I think it's going to be a totally different ball game so just looking forward to it."

Jaz Carlin, who beat Adlington over 400m and 800m at February's duel meet against Germany finished second in 4:09.41 mins while 800m silver medallist Sasha Matthew struck bronze another 2.79 seconds back.

Meanwhile, 16-year old Achieng Ajulu-Bushell sealed her place at her debut Commonwealth Games after adding the 100m breaststroke title to her 50m crown.

The teenager, who competed for Kenya at last summer's World Championships but has since switched allegiance to England and Great Britain, won in emphatic style at Ponds Forge, clocking a personal best 1:08.51 mins.

Defending champion Kate Haywood put her recent injury troubles behind her to strike silver in 1:09.56 mins with 200m champion Stacey Tadd third in 1:09.90 mins.

And Haywood admitted the Manchester-born teenager's emergence has been a breath of fresh air for British women's breaststroke.

"Achieng is an absolutely brilliant swimmer and swam a superb race tonight and throughout the tournament," said Haywood.

"It is brilliant for British Swimming to have so many breaststrokers and I know she will push me on to get better times."

IN PICTURES: Day five from the British Gas Swimming Championships in Sheffield

AS IT HAPPENS: Day five from the British Gas Swimming Championships in Sheffield

The nation's leading energy supplier British Gas is the Principal Partner of British Swimming, and have pledged £15m to support the sport at all levels - from paddling pool to podium. For more information visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming