GB Trials, Day 5 Finals: Scott Continues Record Run, A Dream Come True For Jervis, Vasey On Board

Dan Jervis: Photo Courtesy: Georgia Kerr, British Swimming

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Duncan Scott continued to rewrite the British record books, Dan Jervis had a dream come true and Sarah Vasey booked a trip to Tokyo on the final night of the British Swimming Selection Trials.

Scott went 1:44.47 to win the 200 free and take 0.44 off his own national mark with Tom Dean also under the previous record in 1:44.58 to add his name to the roster with the pair now filling the top two places in the rankings.

With the pre-selected quartet of Scott, Adam Peaty, Luke Greenbank and James Wilby, a further 24 swimmers have now fulfilled the criteria to be nominated to Team GB over the five-day competition at the London Aquatics Centre.

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Men’s 1500 Free

British record: 14:45.95, David Davies, 2004 Olympic Games

Consideration time: 14:55.91

Photo Courtesy: British Swimming

The longest race in the pool represented Dan Jervis‘ last chance at this meet to book a place on the team.

The two-time Commonwealth medallist finished third in the 400m and although he won the 800, his time was 0.37 outside the cut.

The Swansea swimmer – who went 14:58.05 in Manchester in February – declared he would “smash” the 1500.

And so it proved as Jervis ploughed a lone furrow to stop the clock at 14:51.49 with Tobias Robinson next home almost 10 seconds adrift in 15:01.35.

Jervis added his name to the list and said: “I think you only have to know me for five seconds to know that this is my dream. Ever since I was a young boy I’ve only wanted to be an Olympian – that’s all I’ve ever wanted to be.

“I was really happy with the time but honestly I don’t really care about that. All I care about is the fact my family back home just watched me qualify – well, get the consideration time for the Olympic Games.

“Everybody that has ever supported me knows how much that would have meant to me and thank you guys I appreciate that and it’s come true!”

Of his week, Jervis said: “The 400 I was really happy with and the 800 I just missed the consideration time but that really gave me the confidence for the 1500.

“I found this week one of the hardest competitions I’ve ever done. Not so much the swimming – everybody’s swum fantastic – but being stuck in my room for a week which has felt like….I don’t know the right word!

I’ve been thinking about this all day but it has been really tough not to see many people but that’s the situation and if we didn’t have that we wouldn’t be able to compete right now so I’m very grateful to everyone who has put this competition on.”

Jervis once more sent a message to his family.

“This is an absolute dream. When I’m able I’m going to give you all a big hug. I can’t wait to see my family when I get back home and I’m sure my phone is exploding right now and I can’t wait to Facetime my family and have a takeaway tonight.”

Women’s 1500 Free

British Record: 15:47.26, Jazz Carlin

Consideration time: 16:04.14

Thirty lengths of the pool came down to a sprint finish between Leah Crisp and Lucy Charles-Barkley.

The Ironman triathlete Charles-Barkley was 0.37 ahead at the final turn but Crisp did a last 50 of 30.91 to get her hand to the wall first in 16:46.09 to add the 1500 to her 800 title.

Charles-Barkley stopped the clock 0.17 behind in 16:46.26 with Emily Clarke next in 16:59.68.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke

British record: 1:06.34, Siobhan O’Connor, 2016 British Championships

Consideration time: 1:06.79

Sarah_Vasey_100m_Breast_heats_BSST_2021.original (1)

Photo Courtesy:

Sarah Vasey had qualified in 1:07.03 and she went out in 31.11, 0.22 ahead of Molly Renshaw.

Renshaw – who lowered the British 200br record to 2:20.89 earlier this week – came through on the second 50 and appeared on the brink of moving ahead.

Vasey, the Commonwealth 50br champion, hit back though and touched in a PB of 1:06.37 – 0.03 outside the national record – with Renshaw booking a second event to her Tokyo programme in 1:06.72.

It also confirmed the women’s 4×1 medley relay for Tokyo.

Both women train at Loughborough – Vasey under Mel Marshall and Renshaw with Dave Hemmings – with Kara Hanlon of Edinburgh University third in 1:08.00.

Vasey said:

“It’s been a really long and hard week, and I was really nervous this morning because I had no idea how I was going to go.

“Tonight, though, I was just excited to race – and it’s amazing to do it with Molly and Abbie [Wood] as well.

“I feel like this season, I’ve learned a lot about my racecraft, to use that first 50m as easy speed and we’ve done so much work on that second 50m. I’m so glad it’s paid off now!”

Men’s 200 Backstroke

British record: 1:55.34, Luke Greenbank, 2021 British Swimming Invitational Meet

Consideration time: 1:56.60

18th April 2021, London Aquatics Centre, London, England ; 2021 British Swimming Selection Trials

Photo Courtesy: Georgie Kerr

Luke Greenbank set the British record last month in Manchester and he looked comfortable in the heats as he booked lane four in 1:56.95.

Greenbank has been pre-selected to Team GB by virtue of his bronze medal at the 2019 worlds but he was looking to guarantee his events this week.

He was second in the 100 back behind Joe Litchfield with neither man inside the consideration time although both have already booked their places with Litchfield having come second in the 200IM.

Greenbank won in 1:56.70 – outside the cut – ahead of Elliott Clogg (1:57.77) and Brodie Williams (1:58.76).

The Loughborough swimmer – another of the Marshall stable – sprained his ankle in the last couple of weeks which left him hardly able to walk.

He was somewhat downcast after the race, saying:

“I’m a little bit disappointed with the times. The training I’ve been doing coming into this was the best I’ve ever done, but I suffered an ankle sprain a couple of weeks ago, so it’s been a massively-disrupted taper.

“It’s been a good opportunity to get some racing in, I’d have liked to have gone a lot faster but it is what it is.

“It’s probably about more of the same for me now. Like I said, it was the best block of training I’ve ever done, I was just unfortunate having far from the ideal taper. Considering that two weeks ago I was struggling to walk with my ankle, though, I’ll take these performances.”

Women’s 50 Free

British record: 23.96, Fran Halsall, 2014 Commonwealth Games

Consideration time: 24.60

Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

Anna Hopkin – who was seventh at the 2019 World Championships – was the fastest qualifier in 24.81 and she touched first in 24.79.

It was outside the consideration time by 0.19 although she booked her spot on Saturday with second in the 100 free.

The former University of Arkansas swimmer was satisfied with her swim which was her fastest at this point of the season.

Isabella Hindley and Lucy Hope both stopped the clock at 25.13 to share second with 16-year-old Evelyn Davis next home in 25.27.

Hopkin said:

“I’m pretty happy with that swim. I think that’s the fastest I’ve ever been outside of worlds and definitely the fastest I’ve ever been at this point of the season, so to step on a little from the heat and put on a really solid time, I’m pretty happy with that.

“I like to focus on both the 50m and the 100m. I think the 100m takes precedence just because of relays and you always have to train up to the longest distance – but the 50m is always a fun one to do as well.

“It’s exciting to hopefully have a shot at being part of that relay. I’m just excited for the next few months.”

Men’s 200 Free

British record: 1:44.91, Duncan Scott, 2019 World Championships

Consideration time: 1:46.99

Duncan Scott: Photo Courtesy: Georgie Kerr

Everybody was expecting the final race of the final session to be an absolute thriller and so it was.

Duncan Scott set a new British record of 1:44.47 with Tom Dean – who had failed to qualify in the 100 and 400 – also under the old mark in 1:44.58 as he booked a slot in the Japanese capital.

It lifted the pair to the top two slots of the 2021 rankings and ninth and 10th all-time.

Eighteen-year-old Matt Richards set an age group record of 1:45.77 with 2015 world champion James Guy fourth in 1:46.04.

That promises to be some relay come Tokyo.