Three events. A trio of victories. A hat-trick of British records. Duncan Scott’s impressive body of work at the Olympic trials in London underlined both that is in formidable form at present and hinted, enticingly, at what bounty he might procure in Tokyo this summer.

The 23-year-old arguably saved his finest performance for the grand finale last night, rounding off the selection meeting with a superb showing in the 200 metres freestyle final with a time of 1:44.47 that scythed four-tenths of a second off his own existing UK best.

Undoubtedly, it helped that he was shadowed from start to finish by Tom Dean, whose second place in 1:44.58 ensured the pair now monopolise the top two spots in the current world rankings. Three months out from their scheduled arrival in Japan, these are positive portents indeed.

“I’m delighted with the time but just to get the win in that sort of field was really good,” Scott said. “It’s my first 200m freestyle tapered since April 2019. It’s looking very good for our 4x200 relay. If we can just carry this on, it would be good.

“I probably didn’t look it but I was trying to stay composed and trust what I’ve done in training and for the last couple of years. And hold the stroke together because I was hurting.”

With 25 swimmers now all but secure of their places at the Games, Lucy Hope remains outside the fold but with her ambitions not yet dead in the water. The 24-year-old Borderer was third for the third time at the trials in the women’s 50m freestyle, clocking 25.13 secs to come one place ahead of Scottish prospect Evie Davis.

Anna Hopkin impressively saw off Isabella Hindley for top spot but Hope will await word on whether British Swimming chiefs are to attempt to qualify a women’s 4x100 freestyle relay team for Tokyo to increase her chances of a summons.

“Hopefully in a few weeks, I’ll be able to go to Europeans and make the small improvements to get those times,” Hope declared. “There is still a spot open in the 200m and hopefully there’s a chance they take the four of us for the relay in Tokyo.”

Her Edinburgh University cohort Kara Hanlon was just shy of Kirsty Balfour’s Scottish record in coming third in the women’s 100m breaststroke in a personal best of 1:08.00, trailing Sarah Vasey and Molly Renshaw who were both inside the qualification mark.

“I wanted to get closer to the Scottish record but it just wasn’t to be,” Hanlon said. “I was swimming so well coming into this meet. It’s been absolutely amazing. Everyone has been swimming outstanding.”

World medallist Luke Greenbank, who like Scott was pre-selected for Tokyo, won the men’s 200m backstroke with Stirling rival Craig McNally’s Olympic hopes dashed in fourth. Welshman Dan Jervis delivered a gruelling solo gambit to emerge triumphant in the men’s 1500m freestyle with Leah Crisp 13 seconds clear of the field in the women’s.