PLYMOUTH Leander’s Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte swam her fastest 50m breaststroke time of the year to claim victory at the Mare Nostrum event in Barcelona on Saturday.

World record holder Meilutyte clocked 29.98 seconds in the Catalonian capital, which was the first sub-30 second swim in the world this year.

The Plymouth College pupil had also clocked 30.47 seconds in the heats.

Great Britain’s Sarah Vasey was second in the final with 30.79 and Sweden’s Jennie Johansson third in 30.98.

Meanwhile, fellow Leander swimmer Ben Proud finished sixth in the men’s 100m freestyle event in 49.96 seconds.