Greatness is Duncan Scott’s ambition. Mere excellence will not satisfy. The 21-year-old broke fresh ground in Glasgow last night by lowering his own UK record in the 100 metres freestyle to 47.87 seconds to claim a comprehensive victory at the British Swimming Championships, surpassing the benchmark he established at this meeting two years ago in Sheffield.
Having collected European and Commonwealth titles in 2018, it completed the formalities of affirming his selection for July’s world championships in South Korea. It is not about the journey, however, but about what memories he can conjure upon arrival.
“It’s a nice way to move on from two years ago and nice to get under 48 for the second time,” he said. “Now it’s about trying to do that on an international stage consistently, because 47-mid to low could medal. This is definitely in the right direction. That’s why trials are quite tough because the second you finish, you know if it’s good enough or not.”
His Stirling University training partner Scott McLay was runner-up, lowering his personal best to 49.05 secs with a performance that should be persuasive in landing a relay berth in Gwangju at the very least. His strategy was simple.
“Duncan was on my left-hand side,” he grinned. “I knew if I stuck with him, he’d push me through. And that’s what I did.”
European silver medallist Max Litchfield eased to an impressive victory in the 400m individual medley in an automatic qualifying time of 4:10.94. He finished over five seconds clear of Mark Szaranek with the Fifer, who has retained his base at the University of Florida post-graduation, acknowledging it was short of the form he displayed when coming second in this event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
“I’m a little disappointed,” said the 23-year-old. “It’s slower than I wanted to go. I’d have liked to have qualified for the world championships on my first attempt but I have two more shots in the events I’m now leaning more towards, the 200IM and 200 freestyle.”
Daniel Jervis edged ever closer to becoming the quickest Briton of all-time in the men’s 1500m freestyle by swimming 14:46.51 to punch his ticket for Gwangju. It put the 22-year-old within a second of the UK record set by fellow Welshman David Davies when he snared Olympic bronze at the 2004 Games in Athens.
Heady company, Jervis acknowledged.
“David was a legend wasn’t he? If that was 15 years ago, think what that time would be now. Me and my coach have a lot to work on but I will definitely be going after that time.”
Alys Thomas won the women’s 200m butterfly with Hannah Miley sixth. Anna Hopkin took the women’s 50m freestyle title in 24.99 secs with Aberdeenshire prospect Rachel Masson fifth.
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