Kate Haywood admitted she has exceeded all her expectations at the British Gas Swimming Championships in Sheffield after making the final of the 100m breaststroke.

Haywood celebrated her 23rd birthday at Ponds Forge in style by qualifying for the 100m breaststroke final as the second-fastest qualifier in a time of 1:09.68 minutes.

Plymouth Leander flyer Achieng Ajulu-Bushell continued her golden form in the Steel City to finish as the fastest qualifier little under a second quicker than Haywood in 1:08.84minutes.

Haywood, a former Lincoln Vulcan, will be bidding for a ticket to the Commonwealth Games as well as gold tonight but insists she didn't think she would ever get to this point after her notorious hip injury.

"I am really pleased with that and after what has happened I have just been told to dive in and swim and see what happens," said Haywood.

"But things have slowly been getting better considering I have only had a handful of training sessions and am not in the greatest shape because of it.

"But I am really looking forward to the final now and to have set 1:09 in the semi-final has given me a great deal of confidence.

"I didn't even think it was possible to set 1:09 with the injury I have had but I did it and I would love to go faster in the final."

Haywood's injury problems before and during the British Championships have been well documented and she had another injury of a different kind to contend with in the morning heats.

The former Lincoln Vulcan cut her finger on the starting blocks before recovering to finish second and has pleaded with Lady Luck to begin shining on her.

"The first 50 metres of the swim I was wondering what it was flapping around, then I realised I had cut my finger," she added.

"It has been a horrible few months and nothing seems to be going for me but I am getting back to fitness slowly but surely and hoping things will turn around."