Smith and Proud stake claims for World Championships in Glasgow

AMY Smith looks set to snatch a place at the World Championships next month, after a blistering 50m freestyle performance at the British Gas Scottish National Championships.

The 22-year-old Loughborough University student won her heat in 25.44 secs in Glasgow, good enough to move her into the second spot for the World Championships squad with just the finals to go.

Smith could only manage third place at the British Championships in March, but has now surpassed Katherine Wyld's time of 25.57 secs.

Fran Halsall, having taken victory in Sheffield, has already booked her place in the flight to Rome and was quickest in qualifying in Glasgow, touching home in 25.32 secs.

Also staking a claim for a trip to the Italian capital is Stephanie Proud, who clocked a superb 2:10.60 secs in the 200m backstroke.

That moved her ahead of Georgina Davies and into second in the World Championships pecking order, but she will have to be on top form again in the final, with Gemma Spofforth, fresh from a new 50m backstroke British record on Thursday, hot on her heels.     

Hannah Miley looks a dead cert to capture the 200m medley crown as she eased through the heats as the fastest qualifier but she could only managed seventh in the 200m backstroke.

In the men's races, Olympic silver and bronze medallist David Davies cruised home in the 400m freestyle, while Iain MacMillian applied pressure on Joe Roebuck in the 200m butterfly.

 * The nation's leading energy supplier, British Gas is the Principal Partner of British Swimming, supporting the sport at all levels: 'From paddling pool to podium'. For more information visit www.britishswimming.org