DUNCAN SCOTT will now target relay glory at the World Championships after his bid for a second individual medal fell short in Gwangju.
The 22-year-old missed out on the podium in a blanket finish in the 200 metres individual medley, finishing fifth in 1:56.91, 0.77 seconds behind winner Daiya Seto of Japan.
But Scott is now primed to help the British team defend their 4x200 freestyle title today.
“It came right down to the wire,” said the Scot, who won a 200m freestyle bronze this week and may be rested in the relay heats. “But I’ve got to be happy with fifth place at worlds in the first time I’ve done it internationally. It’s the second-fastest time I’ve done. It’s been quite a tough week. But I’m pleased with that.
“I’ve just got relays now and I’ve got to look forward to them.”
His Stirling University team-mate Ross Murdoch was disappointed with his semi-final exit in the 200m breaststroke. He produced a sluggish last length to end up only 11th quickest in 2:08.51, over a half-second down on his time at April’s British Championships.
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“It’s just not good enough,” he said. “I had a good start to the year. I felt really good this morning. It just wasn’t here. I had a rubbish stroke to finish and that might have cost me.
“But that’s another year done and we go again. There is always stuff to work on. It’s never perfect. We just look at what we did this year and work out what we can do a little better. This is the first season I’ve been 2:07 for a couple of years. I’m happy with some of the progress I’ve made but I’m not satisfied with my world championships.”
Scott’s gamble to pull out of the 100m freestyle after the opening round may have backfired with the USA’s Caeleb Dressel defending his title in 46.96 seconds – the second fastest in history - in a race where the Alloa ace’s 2019 best would have left him in fourth.
Welshwoman Georgia Davies was fourth in the women’s 50m backstroke with Alys Thomas fifth in the 200m butterfly.
Luke Greenbank qualified third for today’s men’s 200m backstroke final, Molly Renshaw was fourth-fastest out of the women’s 200m breaststroke semis while rising star Freya Anderson smashed her personal best to reach the women’s 100m freestyle final with a time of 53.31 seconds.
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