With a rapturous crowd behind her at the magnificent arena, where the Paralympic swimming event will take place in just under six months, the 15-year-old from Manchester stormed to victory in a time of 1min 09.52sec to pick up 973 qualification points for the Paralympics meaning that she will now almost certainly make her Paralympic debut at London 2012.

Nine times Paralympic medallist Nyree Kindred secured a time to put her into consideration for Paralympic qualification after finishing in 1:28.37 to take 950 points, while Stephanie Millward won the bronze medal in a time of 1:11.28 to take 919 points.

"I am absolutely amazed," Russell said.

"I didn't know I had it in me.

"When I saw my time I was speechless.

"I couldn't believe it."

Russell's victory is a major success for Playground to Podium, a Sport England initiative, managed by the English Federation of Disability Sport, designed to identify and nurture disabled young people and disabled adults. 


Meanwhile, world champion Jonathan Fox starred in the final of the men's multi classification 100m backstroke as he retained his British title with a strong performance.

Fox stuck to his race plan and stopped the clock on 1:11.07 to win the gold with a total of 1,037 points.

Aaron Moores won the silver medal with a total of 926 points after reaching the wall in 1:05.45, while bronze went to James Crisp in 1:04.34 with 888 points meaning that all three athletes swam under their required qualification time for the Paralympic Games.

"It was a really good event for me," Fox said.

"I came into the heats looking to get the Paralympic qualifying time there which I did with a 1:11.60.

"I tried to go on again and break my world record in the final.

"It didn't quite happen but I'm really happy with a 1:11.07.

"The turn in the backstroke today was really good.

"I kept the streamline going and it meant I could pull it back in the last 50m."


Elsewhere the men's 50m backstroke saw 48-year-old James Anderson (pictured) from St Andrews win with a total of 788 points after finishing in 1:08.38 to close in on a London 2012 Paralympic spot for what would his sixth successive Games appearance as he seeks to add to his total of six gold medals.

Andrew Mullen won the silver with a time of 43.84 and 511 points and Anthony Stephens won the bronze in 44.58 with 486 points.

The Championships, which started yesterday and are due to run until next Saturday (March 10), are serving as the trials for the Olympics and Paralympics as well as the London 2012 swimming test event.

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