Jazz on song back in London

It was a moment that was long in the making for Carlin who had to wait three years to get back into action at the London Aquatics Centre after she failed to secure her spot at London 2012 following the Olympic trials.

The 24-year-old came into the final as favourite but had plenty of work to do to see off a strong field that included Hannah Miley, Eleanor Faulkner and Jessica Thielmann.

But in the end she showed no signs of letting the title slip away and produced the kind of display that makes her such an exciting prospect for a medal at this summer's World Championships after she dipped under the qualifying time by almost a second.

Carlin took control of the race from the start and never looked like giving anyone else a chance as she eventually finished in 4:03.51 minutes – Thielmann holding on for second in 4:09.73.

There was a bronze for Miley but the night belonged to Carlin who says she will use all her experience to carry her form into the summer.

"It was a bit tough trying to push myself out in the first half, which is something I'm not really used to – I'm used to chasing the field," said Carlin.

"I'd think there’s much more to come; I'm four seconds faster than what I was three years ago so I've got to be happy with that.

"I had a bit of nerves coming into this – the last time I swam in this pool for the Olympic trials it didn't go the way I wanted it to but I'm a completely different swimmer and athlete now.

"At worlds everyone will be going even faster and I'll have to be on my game then so I'm really looking forward to that and so glad I got the time tonight.

"This will be my fourth world championships so I'll be the veteran now and it's good to have that experience behind me."

There was also success for Calum Jarvis in a thrilling 100m freestyle race that saw Ben Proud pipped to the wall by 0.04 seconds.

Jarvis had started the day with a personal best time of 48.93 in the morning to set up a mouth-watering encounter with Proud who went 48.7 in his heat.

It was Proud who started the quicker but Jarvis was hot on his heels and hit the throttle after the turn to eventually finish in another personal best time of 48.79.

"I'm really happy with that to get a PB in the morning and then get it down again tonight was brilliant," said Jarvis.

"I knew there was a lot of people to watch in that race and Ben in particular but I managed to pull him back in the last 50.

"I thought he would be further ahead than that so it was good to see his knees and know I was close.

I knew I could claw it back and the feeling to be British champion is amazing."

In the men's 200m butterfly final Cameron Brodie saw off the challenge of Jay Lelliot to take gold in 1:57.71 while there was also a stunning swim for Roberto Pavoni who went within the world qualifying standard to win the 200m individual medley final in 1:57.79.

And Molly Renshaw was crowned 200m breaststroke champion after she clocked 2:25.75 to hold off Katie Matts and Chloe Tutton.

"To be fair it felt quite good, I thought maybe I was going to get a PB and it did feel like it was going to plan, especially compared to the heats this morning, so when I looked up and saw the scoreboard I was a bit disappointed," said Renshaw.

"It's my first British Championships title so I can't complain with that at all, but the overall outcome is not what I wanted.

"I've got the 100m breastroke on Friday, so the focus turns to that and hopefully I can post a better time there."

© Sportsbeat 2015